Eyes lit up and smiles spread across the children’s faces as they collected their new pairs of sports shoes, each offering a grateful "thank you."
The scene was heartwarming as the children from three Cape Town schools received the generous donation of sports shoes and takkies from the "Our Shoes Charity Organisation."
The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, visited three schools in Cape Town to hand over the much needed sport apparel donated by the Irish non-profit organisation (NPO).
Each year, the organization collects 50,000 pairs of gently used shoes from Ireland and donates them to underprivileged children in South Africa.
On this occasion, 1,500 pairs of sports shoes were given, with 500 pairs allocated to each of the three schools.
Minister Gwarube visited Vukukhanye Primary School in Gugulethu, Kwamfundo Senior Secondary School in Khayelitsha, and Paramount High School in Mitchells Plain.
"This handover highlights our ongoing commitment to working with partners in the education sector to enhance access and participation in sports across schools," said Gwarube.
"We must ensure that every child, no child is hindered from attending school or sports activities due to a lack of appropriate footwear. A big thank you to Our Shoes Charity Organisation, an NPO from Ireland, for the generous donation."
The Department of Basic Education said it will continue to prioritize holistic development for learners and support initiatives that eliminate barriers to participation, helping revitalize sports in schools.