There was an atmosphere of gratitude and joy when the speaker in the provincial parliament, Masizole Mnqasela, Youth4Life and Shoes of Hope donated 50 pairs of shoes to Noxolo Xauka Primary School in Makhaza on Monday.
Before the handover, various public representatives and leaders cleaned the pupils’ feet before they put on the newly donated shoes.
Mr Mnqasele, who grew up in the community, said the quality of life for most Khayelitsha residents had not changed.
Therefore, he said, leaders should not forget where they came from and should find a way to assist one child at a time, to develop future leaders.
“Let us all make education fashionable. In making education fashionable, we are creating a space for equality and using education as the greatest equaliser.
Education has the power to change the lives of the next generation. We must make a difference as leaders so that when we leave the world it becomes a better place than when we found it.
“We must continue to encourage our children to dream and know that their dreams are valid. I have been going around the entire province giving shoes to the schools, and I have given about 1000 shoes, and I have about 2000 shoes that I still need to give,” he said.
Mr Mnqasela said through the donation he wanted to impact every corner of the province and he wanted to encourage every businessman or woman and public representatives to help make a better life for the next person.
School principal Jongixolo Vuyani Ndima said many pupils came from households that did not have much and the donation would make their lives easier.
He lamented, however, that the assistance was not enough to help all of those in need.
Youth4Life representative, Casilda Makinana, said they wanted the children not to feel different from others and to show them that there were people who cared about their well-being and future.