Hundreds of Helderberg learners received new eco-friendly school shoes as Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor of Cape Town, continued his mission of donating 42 200 pairs to children who cannot afford footwear last Tuesday (23 September).
The handover, part of Andrews’ Sole for Souls campaign across the Western and Northern Cape, took place at Dr GJ Joubert Primary School in Strand.
The campaign started last year when Andrews felt the need to respond after researching the plight of learners.
“Children sometimes don’t attend school because they don’t have school shoes,” he pointed out. “The least I can do is run a marathon to get them across the line and remove one barrier they have to face, so they get to attend class every single day.”
Andrews funded the campaign by lacing up for last year’s 42,2 km Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Each kilometre he ran saw him raise funds for 1 000 pairs of shoes.
This was not an easy feat as his hulking physique is more suited to contact sport as opposed to endurance competition, which is evident from his former career as a Springbok rugby player.
“I am not naturally built for road running,” he laughed.
Despite the challenge, Andrews completed the marathon and set out to provide learners with the best school shoes possible.
The shoes are cost-effective, at R85 per pair, as well as being fully recyclable as they are made of 100% rubber. The sole of the footwear effectively safeguards the learners.
To date, Andrews has donated 10 000 units of the shoes.
Tuesday’s handover saw learners from Lwandle and Strand schools, which include Altena Primary, Rusthof Primary, Simanyene Secondary and Rusthof LSEN School, became the latest to receive the eco-friendly foot protectors as well as organisations such as Africa Can and Halli Trust.
Also attending the event were Grade 7 learners Zachery Warding, Jeston Adams and Luwellen Olifhant from False Bay Primary School ,who raced up the N2 to join learners from host school Dr GJ Joubert Primary School to collect the shoes.
“This is a fantastic initiative from the greater City of Cape Town and the deputy mayor, as the shoes are for disadvantaged children in the Helderberg and are a way of trying to regain their dignity,” explained Chantal Cerfontein, Ward 85 councillor and Subcouncil 8 chairperson.
Norman McFarlane, Ward 84 councillor, added: “In my ward I know there are parents who struggle to get their children to school with a decent pair of shoes, particularly through the winter, and I’m thrilled to say that some of these shoes will be distributed to [learners] of Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School.”
The excitement of the ward councillors and the learners brought smiles to Andrews’ face, but he believes the donation of school shoes are only the first step.
“I know the learners still have a choice,” he said. “There still social ills prevalent in our communities, but with the school shoes we are presenting the learners with a healthy alternative.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.