Thursday (1 February) was a day full of giving for the students of the South African Military Academy affiliated with Stellenbosch University, based in Saldanha.
The post-graduate students collected and distributed school shoes, socks and sanitary pads to the learners of Middelpos and Diazville Primary. Along with these handovers fellow student Cpl Marnuchelle Badenhorst presented St Andrews in White City and Masiphathisane Primary, Vredenburg with stationery.
“Through the school shoes drive we have a vision of restoring hope, pride and dignity. We hope to restore the foundation of a bright future for the learners,” Lt Palesa Mogatla explains.
As part of the Academy Mogatla and her fellow students are required to have community outreach programmes. Although Thursday’s donation was not part of their course all students, from first years to post graduates, have to help the local community.
Mogatla says the outreach can take any form and the cause can be what- ever touches the hearts of the students.
“For us as public servants I think it is good that the community members can see we think of them. And for these kids it is a way to realise they are not alone, even if things are tough at home, there are people who are not related to you but who still care. Hopefully they will grow up with that same positivity,” she says.
The first stop was Diazville where principal Lee-Ann Davids-Hartzenberg thanked the students saying that although some learners have shoes in many cases the shoes are damaged and worn through.
At Middelpos principal Mzwandile Sixholo explained that many parents in the community are unemployed. The donations of school shoes thus brings some relief as it is one less expense parents have to worry about.
The donations Badenhorst handed out were part of her community work as part of the Miss Elegance pageant of which she is a finalist. Part of her participation of the pageant means she has to give back to the local community and Badenhorst believes arming learners with much needed educational tools will help empower them. “Because no one can take your education away from you,” she urges.
The students are Lt Palesa Mokgatla, Lt Mashudu Mathoho, S Lt Sfundo Mbatha, Lt Ayanda Nkambule, Lt Casey Bentley, Lt Shelvin Mashao, Lt Isaac Mofokeng, and Capt Sipokuhle Nyembe. They thank the Facility of Military Science, Dr Yolandi Fontaine and everyone who gave donations.
