By Palesa Ndinisa
Praysgod Tsotetsi, a 32-year-old male from Duduza founded an organisation under the name ‘DrShoes School Tour Project’. It is a community based initiative directed at improving the lives of needy public school children around Ekurhuleni.
The initiative has been operating for six months and will surely continue to grow and be prestigious. With the help of his dedicated team; Nobesuthu Ndeya, Elizabeth Khambule, Nonhlanhla Maseko and Zanela Mabena, the DrShoes School Tour Project has aided over 450 students across eight (8) public schools in the Ekurhuleni area. These schools include Zakheni Primary School, Duduza Primary School, Emzimkhulu Primary School and Phumlani Primary School among others.
Praysgod Tsotetsi, shared that the goal of the program is to undoubtedly improve the wellbeing and dignity of deprived learners by providing them with wearable shoes. “The idea behind the DrShoes project was born from a deep-rooted passion for shoe repairing, which is a skill I honed as a side hustle while employed in the nutrition delivery sector. During the time I delivered food to public schools in Gauteng, I observed a growing concern- many learners attended school in damaged or worn out shoes. I then started repairing shoes for learners in my community which later developed into the structured and impactful DrShoes initiative,” revealed Tsotetsi.
The success and continuity of the program rely on munificent contributions from individuals, organisations and businesses. Sponsorship and donations are welcomed in a form of shoe repair materials (glue or stitching tools), shoe polish, new or lightly worn shoes, school socks or sanitary towels (pads) for female students. Anyone interested in donating can contact Praysgod Tsotetsi on 063 363 4588.
“DrShoes School Tour Project runs annually, with scheduled visits to various public schools throughout the year, offering services and distributing donated items,” expressed Tsotetsi.
