AS recent research shows that 58 per cent of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read and understand, while 29 per cent are completely illiterate, the children’s charity, the Santa Shoebox Project (SSB), has added a reading book to its list of wonderful gifts that can be purchased to include Santa Shoeboxes ahead of the holiday season.
The Little Optimist is a book which Greg Bertish, the extreme sportsman, started writing after his hospital stay in 2002 following open heart surgery to remove a previously un-diagnosed bacteria, which attacked his aortic heart valve.
Greg spent months in hospital with children who were suffering from similarly serious conditions, and became inspired to create something that would uplift youth regardless of their circumstance.
The book was written aiming to inspire children between the ages of two and 10 years old to believe in and never give up on themselves.
Santa Shoebox Project has partnered with Greg Bertish this year. When donors buy a copy of The Little Optimist, either for themselves or for their Santa Shoeboxes, Greg will donate another copy to a Santa Shoebox recipient.
The book is available in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
The project’s 2017 pledging kicked-off on 1 September with the aim to reach 110 000 underprivileged children this year – part of their ultimate goal of reaching a million children by 2019.
Within just over a month they have received almost 76 000 pledges, leaving only 34 000 to go.
For those with hectic schedules who are unable to shop for Santa Shoebox goodies, or those who live far from drop-off points, as well as expats, SSB offers the Virtual Santa Shoebox (VSS) that allows donors to pledge for a child by name, to select their box contents online and to write a personal message to the child.
The SSB team will then pack these boxes and deliver them to children around the country. A Virtual Santa Shoebox costs R400.
The public is asked to participate in the Santa Shoebox Project by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za to register as a supporter.
A list of drop-off locations and dates can be found here: https://santashoebox.org.za/find-my-local-dropoff/
Santa Shoebox complete list
1. Standard sized shoebox or plastic container, box and lid wrapped separately
2. Barcoded label which the donor will receive upon pledging online
3. Toothbrush
4. Toothpaste
5. Facecloth
6. Soap
7. Toy
8. Outfit of clothing
9. School supplies
10. Sweets
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