Corinthians together with Old Mutual donated school shoes to 100 learners at La Rochelle Primary School on January 19.
The impact of this gesture was immediately visible on the faces of the learners, many of whom had been struggling with worn-out shoes or inadequate footwear.
Tebogo Lehabe, the chief operating officer of Corinthians NPO, explained that the decision to donate stemmed from a recognition of the challenges faced by the La Rochelle community.
“The area is grappling with a high unemployment rate and various social issues, and also it is situated near our centre where many children from the school also attend the aftercare services at our facility.
“It is also devastating to witness children go to school with torn shoes, as this can have a detrimental impact on their concentration and self-worth. Additionally, children in these situations may be more open to bullying,” said Lehabe.
According to Lehabe, the school shoe donation initiative started the previous year when they identified children from less privileged backgrounds through their aftercare programme.
“We gathered information on sizes and names, as we aimed to provide targeted assistance to those in need,” she said.
Lehabe emphasised Corinthians NPO’s dedication to serving as a community pillar of support and extended an invitation to anyone in need to get in touch with them. She further expressed gratitude for the support received from Old Mutual, which sponsored the initiative.
La Rochelle Primary School’s deputy principal and acting principal, Sharmila Gautamah, thanked the NPO and emphasised the difficulties faced by learners from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
“As a non-paying school that constantly grows in order to accommodate the needs of the learners, we are dependent on donations from NGOs, local businesses, and the general public for necessities like school shoes and stationery.
“Although we receive some support from the Department of Education, we also look for more to help with either reading books, shoes, school uniforms, and other necessary school supplies.
“Support would also be highly appreciated in the areas of sporting items and computers, as we are eager to use these resources for the benefit of our learners,” said Gautamah.
To seek assistance from the NPO, please reach out at 071 968 9302. For inquiries regarding sponsoring the school, you can contact us at 011-435-9645.
