The Johannesburg Correctional Services visited Tshedimosho Mehaleng Primary School in Mofolo on Thursday to donate 122 school shoes to the learners.
Every year for the past five years, officials of the Department have chosen to be the reason why children from Soweto remain at school.
They do this under their proj
ect called Walking Proud where they restore dignity to learners.
“If you look at the average household in this area, most of them are reliant on a government grants.
ALSO READ: Donation of blankets and food made to learners of Lufhereng Primary School
“The grant is used to deal with home essentials and a pair of school shoes becomes the least of their priorities,” said Samantha Ramsewaki, Community Liaison Manager at the Johannesburg Correctional Services.
“So, we believe that having a new pair school shoes will help the learner feel motivated and equal to their peers. It is all about restoring dignity and giving them the confidence to walk without shame.”
This is more than just giving a learner a new pair of shoes but it is going to play a pivotal role in how they perceive themselves.
This will also boost the children’s self-esteem and will feel loved and important.
Because it gets painful for some children when they are dressing up for school and realize that their shoes are worn-out.
ALSO READ: Local disability centre receives donations
Principal Bongani Mgoqi of Tshedimosho Primary School said, “We highly appreciate what the correctional services did to our school. It’s going to go a long way in terms of boosting the confidence and will change their behaviour on their school work.”
According to Mel Tlhapi, Mrs Soweto 2023, children who come from less privileged homes fall victim to bullying because their uniform is either torn or not ironed. They get teased and laughed at because they don’t look like other children.
“Once a child has torn shoes or uniform, they start getting teased and such brings emotional damage to the child and choose to skip school.
“Today, children will start walking to school with pride and hope for a better future,” said Tlhapi.
Correctional Services officials don’t only come to the school to donate shoes but they also visit on Saturdays to clean, ensuring that learners come back to a school that is clean and motivating.
