Rudolf Gaiseb
Non-profit organisation Project Never Walk Alone donated school shoes to learners of Monica Geingos Junior Secondary School in Otjiwarongo on Friday.
This was the project’s first donation in 2024, and it was made possible in collaboration with former First Lady Monica Geingos, who is also the school’s patron. She sponsored 169 pairs of shoes. Life skills teacher at the school Namataa Matengu said the donation is significant, as it has helped learners who could not afford to buy school shoes. “The donation has significantly impacted the lives of the learners. For some of these learners, it is so difficult to get school shoes even until June – and by that time, we have entered winter. But overall, the donation was so exciting to them. Now, they at least have school shoes on their feet,” she said.
Matengu indicated there are a few others who need school shoes, and there is an additional need for learners to obtain full school uniforms, but as a life skills teacher, she said it is her duty to uplift learners – and as a school, to help where there is a need.
She said learners’ parents are unable to buy the full uniform, or sometimes cannot afford it.
“Although they do not have proper school uniforms, we allow learners to come to school anyway, especially the eighth graders who come from primary schools. They struggle to obtain full school attire sometimes for the entire first semester.
But we understand the situation of the parents – that some of them cannot just buy the full uniform, as learners change from one school to another. We have never had learners stay home because they are missing proper school attire. We allow them to come to school in their different coloured uniforms,” she added.
Founder of Project Never Walk Alone Tim Ekandjo said “Shoes provide kids with the confidence they need to excel at school and in life. It restores the very dignity of these kids – and most importantly, it allows them to go to school safely and protected”.
According to Ekandjo, the project has now effectively delivered 10 169 pairs in the seven regions of Hardap, Omaheke, Erongo, Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene and Khomas.
Tomorrow, the project is set to deliver 100 pairs of school shoes to Mariental Primary School, which will be sponsored by the Capricorn Foundation.
Thereafter, the project will visit the Zambezi region with 1 800 pairs of shoes.
“The next regions we are working on will be Oshana and //Kharas, and we will take there based on the availability of the budget,” Ekandjo added.
Local singing and dancing duo Twazis performed live at the school on the day, leaving the learners entertained as they received their new pairs of school shoes.
– rrgaiseb@gmail.com