Smiles all round as kids get new school shoes
More than 100 benefit from initiative
MORE than 100 pupils from Edendale Primary School in Manenberg will attend classes in new shoes, thanks to a donation from Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages.
The school, located in a gang-ridden area, made news in 2017 when Grade 4 pupil Chanelle McCrawl, 10, was found murdered in October, a day after she was declared missing.
Her uncle Carlo de Kock was later convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering his niece, and sentenced to two life terms behind bars.
But yesterday, pupils had a lot to smile about when new school shoes were handed over to 113 pupils as part of the company’s Corporate Social Investment initiative.
Principal Faadilah Ryklief said: “I am happy. Any donation we receive means a lot; so many learners can have shoes now.”
She said the teacher in charge of handing out donated school clothes would manage the shoes as well, so that those who are most in need out of the 467 pupils would receive assistance. “The teacher will be going around to all classes from today to see who really needs them because there are cases where children receive clothes then don’t wear them.”
She said that most of the pupils were Sassa-dependent, with only between 20% and 30% of their parents working. “That’s why we always appreciate assistance and stretch it as far as we can. A pair of shoes or new clothes can boost a pupil’s self-esteem because they feel they are worthy. You see a child coming with broken shoes, just give him a pair of shoes and immediately you notice a change in his behaviour because he is now part of the learners, otherwise that child feels out all the time,” Ryflief said.
Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages spokesperson Priscilla Urquhart said that being a part of the handover made her happy.
“It brings us great joy to be able to provide brand new school shoes for more than 100 children of Edendale Primary, who were without shoes or had very well-worn out shoes at the start of the school year,” she said.
Edendale Primary School’s “value of the month” for pupils to focus on is kindness. They believe that no act of kindness is ever wasted, no matter how small. The Coca-Cola team was proud to bring this value to life through the school shoe donation.
“We are committed to our purpose of making a difference that matters through ongoing community initiatives and CSI (Corporate Social Investment) projects.
“The happy smiles from the children who received the school shoes were worth every effort our South team put into this initiative,” Urquhart said.
“A pair of shoes or new clothes can boost a pupil’s self-esteem Faadilah Ryklief School principal