The biggest shoe campaign in the Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Apr 1, 2021
- 2 min read
On image: Moshe Ndiki, who is the YMCA shoe campaign ambassador assisting a kid to fit his new pair of Toughees.
The team shared a background about how and why the shoe campaign commenced and the impact it has to the school kids lives thus far. “The school shoe campaign has been a humbling experience that we never anticipated. It started as an idea that Lerato shared with an acquaintance but it's clear God was listening. The aim was to help children in the underprivileged schools to have a decent pair of shoes during the start of the school year but it went beyond that, as we saw the impact it had in the eyes of the beneficiaries”.
Parent's appreciation was overwhelming as they could not afford to get the shoes for their children due to unemployment. In the beginning, the first two days of distributing the shoes was very emotional for the team. Seeing what poverty does to families. Seeing children going to school with torn shoes and the attachment they had on the shoes even when given a brand new pair. To some it was difficult to let go of the old, torn shoes with holes because they have a sentimental value to them.
They have an attachment as they travelled long journeys with that pair until it was worn out. In the two weeks, we donated 1400 pairs of school shoes to 21 schools in the Bay. We look forward to continuing with the campaign again in June and help those in need. Children deserves the right to basic essentials. We have to work hard to protect them especially in vulnerable communities. Oliver Tambo said: "The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future". It takes a village to raise a child.
YMCA is planning to continue with the school shoes campaign throughout the year and accepts donations from any businesses, corporates and individuals.
BANK DETAILS:
PEYMCA FNB
Account number: 53410078068
Branch code: 210317
Branch: Newton Park
For donations contact: Lerato Lebopo
Email: info@ymcanmb.co.za
or visit: www.ymcanmb.co.za
Tel: 0414522042
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