Residents from the Greater Eldorado Park face a deluge of challenges, chief among them is the high unemployment rate which has a trickle-down effect on the well-being of children in the area.
Many children are heavily affected by this as their parents cannot afford the basic necessities like school shoes and stationery which can have a deep psychological impact on them.
Children from Freedom Park who are enrolled in the Phakamani Youth Minds Academy (PYMA) after-school programme, were the lucky recipients of school shoes and stationery packs to ensure that they stay in school.
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PYMA founder, Bokang Mokoena said that initiatives like this are important because too many children still go to school without the basic necessities.
“Seeing how happy and excited the children have reminded me of why I started this organisation. I wanted to help children in my community reach great heights and with the basics, they can confidently go to school and learn without feeling left out because they lack what their peers have,” said Mokoena.
According to Mokoena, the school shoes were donated by the South African Breweries as part of their corporate social investment programme.
“A total of 65 pairs of school shoes and 50 stationery packs, including pencil bags were donated to the organisation,” he said.
Buhle Ndluli, a nine-year-old beneficiary said that she was excited for the year ahead because she now has everything she needed for school. Mokoena said that he has set goals for the organisation.
“We’re very excited and believe that this year will be a great year for PYMA. We want to reform ourselves and regroup, ensuring that all our learners are given what they need in terms of academics. As an organisation, we are always looking for volunteers to join us so we encourage our community to assist.”
Anyone who would like to join us can contact me on 071 162 5781 or bokang@pyma.co.za.
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