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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - "We are not giving shoes, we are planting a seed of hope."
Following these words, the speaker of the Western Cape Parliament, Masizole Mnqasela, made the learners of Diaz Primary School repeat after him, "I am a dreamer."
The speaker on Wednesday, 10 November visited the school as part of a shoe distribution project in partnership with Youth4Life and the Samaritan's Feet South Africa.
Accoring to Madri Schuch from Youth4Life, who facilitated the handout on Wednesday, more than 2 000 pairs of shoes have been distributed in the Western Cape.
Local councillors, Marilyn Kannemeyer and Erica Meyer, as well as deputy executive mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, attended the event. Kotzé, a personal friend of the speaker, thanked him for choosing Mossel Bay.
Photo gallery: Skoolskoene verbly kinderharte
"While many of us take shoes for granted, not everyone is that fortunate to do so. With the Covid-19 pandemic and its vast negative impact on the economy, parents have sleepless nights about where the next meal is coming from. Buying school shoes may be well outside their reach."
In addressing the councillors, speaker Mnqasela said that it is a responsibility to help the learners see themselves as councillors, deputy mayors, teachers, scientists and doctors.
"We don't want these young ones growing up not believing in themselves. When things look impossible, we must plant a seed that allows them to dream and continue with that dream. We must give them hope that this dream they have can be realised."
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Mnqasela then addressed the learners, using the example of his own humble background. He regularly switched to Afrikaans when addressing the learners.
"Ek is 'n plattelandse boytjie. No one imagined I would stand here today as the speaker of parliament. In my village in the old Transkei, you didn't see success. When you looked around, there was nothing better, but what made us see the future was when somebody that came from that village had made it. Then you realised - I too will make it."
The speaker, councillors and teachers then proceeded with the handover. Schuch explained the symbolism of removing the old shoes and cleaning the learners' feet while having a personal conversation with them and then putting on the new shoes.
"The child will grow out of those shoes, but he or she will never forget the experience of receiving them from someone as important as these grown-ups asking them about their dreams for the future. It will serve as a reminder."
Speaker of the Western Cape Parliament, Masizole Mnqasela enjoyed chatting with this young man.
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