Local school celebrates International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Teachers and non-teaching staff from Tshabalala Primary School in Katlehong held a special ceremony to celebrate International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the school on October 17.
The observance of the day can be traced back to October 17, 1987, when more than 100 000 people gathered in Paris, France, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger.
In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It has been celebrated yearly since October 17, 1993.
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Since that day different individuals and organisations observe the day by organising something good for people from destitute backgrounds.
Under the theme of Acting Together to Empower Children, their Families and Communities to End Poverty, teachers from Tshabalala Primary School on the day also remembered their children as well as the members of the community they serve.
They observed the day by donating items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, washing powder, face clothes, bath soaps as well as clothes.
Bertha Mahlatji, one of the teachers who came up with the idea of celebrating the day at the school, said the reason for celebrating the day is because they are aware of the fact that poverty hurts children’s development and leads to poor health as people reach adulthood.
She said as teachers they felt the need for doing something good for the children of the school as well as the community as most of their children come from destitute backgrounds.
“It was easy to identify them as we know them since Grade R. We asked their teachers to go to the room where the items were placed. They collected the items and distributed them equally to the learners,” said Mahlatji.
Learners were very grateful and thankful for receiving the items.
Nomthandazo Masuku* (12), who is doing Grade Five at the school, said she was excited as the items she received won’t be of help only to her but to her family as well.
“I am very grateful to my teachers for the gifts they have given to us. They will make a very good impact on our lives. Sometimes our dress codes determine our self-esteem. When we wear good clothes it creates positive self-esteem which enables us to perform better at school. I would like to thank our teachers for thinking about us beyond the classroom situation,” said Masuku.
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*Not her real name as Kathorus MAIL wants to protect the image of the learner.
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