By Motshabi Hoaeane
Youngage Foundation on the 3rd of 2025, gave 200 children school shoes in Vosloorus through their social investment initiative partnering with Winnie and Fortune Kunene Trust. The initiative, part of the NPOs programme aims to change the lives of South African people.
“Motivation and learner empowerment was at the heart of the mission,” said Louisa Molise, founder of Youngage. Celebrating her birthday, Molise also said that it was always a blessing to share joy with the younger generation. She said that having grown up without a pair of steady school shoes, she knew the feeling and wanted to make a mark and difference to those who were like her younger self, especially as she was celebrating her birthday as well on this significant day.
Molise, who says she also experienced growing up without a proper pair of school shoes, emphasised that this personal history has driven her commitment to improving the lives of others facing similar challenges.
Two schools which are beneficiaries of this initiative’s handsome donations are Ndelenhle Primary School and Fortune Kunene Primary School, with both schools getting 100 pairs of shoes respectively.
Khanya Magudulela, Board Trustee of the Winnie and Fortune Kunene Foundation, who is a Vosloorus native, said that “the significance of these school shoes is that we really want these young children to walk with confidence to their bright futures.” She also averred that ploughing back to the community in a positive way was something their foundation did with a heart of joy.
Deputy Principal at Fortune Kunene, Zanele Mkhize said that the school was grateful “these shoes are going to be a good example to others, especially to learners, that it is good to give. Also, it’s going to assist learners with a boost of confidence [especially if shoes are no longer broken or torn], we hope what they have done for the school does not stop, but that God blesses them to be able to do more.”
Zandile Kunene -Youngage Foundations project coordinator said that it was important that both girl and boy children are given proper school shoes, especially marking youth month.
