OVER 280 pupils in the Matabetulu Primary School in Inanda are now able to put their best feet forward, following a recent shoe donation facilitated by the Blue Sky Society Trust and Lion Match Company.
The organisation, founded by local resident, Carla Geyser, was supporting the efforts of the Soul2Sole initiative, which aims to provide pupils from lower living standard measurement schools in South Africa with new shoes.
Geyser, who is known for her animal activism, said she was inspired to get involved in humanitarian work after taking part in the 2012 Put Foot Rally in Zambia.
According to Geyser, shoes are not only a symbol of hope but also a tool of empowerment. By giving them a new pair of shoes, she said, one is impacting the children’s lives directly.
“It is humbling to see the excitement on the faces of the children when they receive their new shoes. Its like you have given them a wining lottery ticket. Sadly some of the kids were forced to squish their feet into shoes that are two or three sizes too small,” she said.
“Conservation and humanitarian work are very much interlinked,” she added. “By impacting on the lives of humans, especially children, we are trying to creating a ripple effect. We can only hope to challenge the way that the children see conservation and educate them about the importance of looking after the environment even when their situation is so under-privileged. Who knows, one of these children could be the next president or director of a company,” said Geyser.
PHOTO: Wokshots Photography
The passionate activist said she hoped to form a relationship with the school and plans to donate more shoes to its pupils and build a self-sustainable vegetable garden as well as a a library and computer room on the premises.
In August Geyser, will lead the first all-female expedition from South Africa to Kenya, travelling 10 000 kilometres across ten African continents to raise funds and awareness for the elephant plight.
