Gallery Update Video
MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEOS - The Shoes of Hope Initiative was rolled out in eight schools in the Garden Route area this week, with more than 4 000 pairs of shoes distributed to primary school learners.
The Speaker of the Western Cape provincial parliament, Masizole Mnqasela, in collaboration with Youth4LifeSA and Samaritan's Feet SA, visited Garden Route Primary School in Asla Park on Wednesday, 16 November, where 500 pairs of shoes were distributed.
The Shoes of Hope Initiative is about much more than only providing shoes to those who need them most.
Mnqasela explains: "This project is an opportunity to plant a seed of hope. It doesn't matter where you come from or what your circumstances are, what matters is your resolve.
"While washing and massaging their feet, we talk to each child in front of us.
"We encourage them to stay at school for as long as possible and in that way we make education fashionable."
International organisation
Samaritan's Feet is an international organisation which gives shoes to children to give them hope.
Jeanne-Marie Minnie, social media manager for Samaritan's Feet in the Western Cape said: "We are using a shoe which is a physical need to supply an emotional and psychological need in the child.
"We do this to strengthen our children and the country and to give the children something they can see and that can improve their lives, physically, but also psychologically.
"In the communities we go to, people have lost hope and by engaging with the children and asking them what they want to become one day, we encourage them and plant a seed of hope."
Learners from Denneprag Primary and Ruiterbos Primary schools, both in the Ruiterbos area, Garden Route Primary in Mossel Bay, Groot-Brakrivier Primary, Diepkloof Primary at Sinksabrug near George, Touwsraten Primary in Wilderness, Brackenhill Primary in Knysna and Phakamisani Primary in Plettenberg Bay were all beneficiaries of this project, which has already distributed 10 million pairs of shoes over the world.
VIDEO - Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Masizole Mnqasela, at the Garden Route Primary:
VIDEO - Nickey le Roux, councillor for ward 11, Mossel Bay at the Garden Route Primary School:
VIDEO - Zithulele Matyesini, ward councillor (ward 15):
VIDEO - Jeanne-Marie Minnie, social media manager for Samaritan's Feet SA:
Children's feet were washed and massaged before they received a new pair of shoes. Here are some of the teachers at Garden Route Primary in Asla Park engaging with the children.
Previous article: Shoes bring hope
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
