A PAIR of school shoes may not seem like a big deal, but to children living in disadvantaged communities around KZN, they are a powerful tool in helping create opportunities for a better future. It means a safer walk to school, protecting children’s feet from cuts, infections and diseases and giving children a sense of dignity.
This is what motivated Virginia Airport management employee, Steven Govender when he recently organised a shoe drive for a disadvantaged school down the south coast.
Through the help of three other people, Govender, was able to buy 150 pairs of shoes (both boys and girls) of different sizes from EduFeet, a company that makes shoes out of recyclable materials which are biodegradable and eco-friendly.
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“Learners from Phemdukukhanya Primary School in Gobhamehlo (KZN) had visited the airport on a school tour and I noticed many of them didn’t have a proper uniform or school shoes in good condition. My heart really broke for the children and I decided that I was going to start a drive to either get them new uniforms or school shoes. So I phoned around and eventually found EduFeet and they were only too happy to assist.
“I put out an appeal to the management of the airport and Glen Bryce, Brad Isaacson, John Dyer and myself all put in money to help purchase several pairs of school shoes for the learners. In all we were able to purchase 150 pairs of different sizes which I handed over to one of the teachers at the school over the weekend. He was thrilled and couldn’t believe the gesture and that I’d driven so far just to deliver the shoes,” he said.
Due to the success of the drive, Govender said he now hoped to identify other schools with similar needs and encouraged other residents who were in a position to help, to give back to the disadvantaged.
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