Young age Foundation NPC had a Santa Shoebox campaign, putting a smile on Leratadima Primary School learners on the 6th of December 2024.
Speaking to Louisa Molise the founder, she said the purpose of the campaign was to provide hope to 120 underprivileged children who
had not owned school shoes since the start of 2024 by giving them a pair to wear in the academic year of 2025.
“120 learners benefited from the project, 60 boys and 60 girls,” she said.
Louisa explained that the principal and the school have seen that learners who have not worn school shoes since the start of the year are frequently made fun of, excluded, and even laughed at.
To help those children feel included, empowered, and excited about going to school, Youngage Foundations NPC contacted GWM South Africa to request support and a donation of new school shoes.
“Lack of shoes and sanitary pads causes children to miss school and feel demotivated, which diminishes their self-esteem and confidence. Our goal with this initiative was to guarantee that every child, regardless of parental background, feels the same,” she added.
The shoebox gift had a pair of school shoes, soap, washcloth, sanitary pads, and a hygiene pack.
Louisa believes that shoes are symbolic of pride and give confidence to young learners knowing that they can walk to school in comfort, as opposed to barefoot. Shoes are also a vital protection barrier
between the children’s tiny soles and Africa’s rough and unforgiving terrain.
“Parents experience difficulty affording school shoes due to their high cost and short duration of use as a result of growing feet. Young age Foundations NPC is about restoring dignity and meeting one of our most basic needs, a pair of shoes on our feet,” she cited.
She strongly believes in the power of education and its transformative potential.
“Education is of vital importance to future generations and the future economic growth of our country. School shoes contribute to a learner’s dignity and self-esteem, and because they complete a school uniform, they contribute to their sense of confidence. We’re just so privileged to be in a position to help where we can, and we won’t stop here.
With their dedication, they have proudly supported and donated school shoes to 34 schools in Gauteng, making an impact on 3400 learners.
By Simphiwe Nkosi
