“We are donating the school shoes to needy and deserving learners in order to encourage our children to go to school, respect their educators and have a bright future,” these were the words of the former Jomo Cosmos and Bafana Bafana midfield maestro, Sammy Magalefa.
Magalefa through his six-year-old foundation, Job Sam Magalefa Foundation and his sponsors Select PPE, on Friday, last week, donated 500 school shoes to needy leaners of Kamogelo and Izanokhanyo Primary Schools, in Simunye, Westonaria, in the West Rand.
Magalefa and his sponsors also encouraged leaners to focus on their education and stay away from social ills. He said he his life experience made him start his foundation.
Magalefa established his foundation in 2018 and started identifying needy school and school learners. He succeeded in helping needy learners with his sponsors, who donate as far as the North West and most areas of Gauteng.
“Throughout my school years, there were instances when I had to go to school bare-footed. So, when things changed for the better and started earning income, I saw the need to start this foundation with the sole purpose of assisting and helping school leaners,” said Magalefa, who also played for Aris Thesolonic Football Club in Greece.
“It saddens me to see school going leaners going to school bare-footed. When leaners go to school bare-footed or without proper uniform, they get discouraged and their performance at school drops. At some point they even drop out of school. These school shoes they’ll go a long way in make them feel accommodated and welcomed within their schools,” Magalefa concluded.
Oatile Mokhasi, of Select PPE said: “We are grateful as a company to be part of this noble initiative and we hope that the donation will go a long way in assisting our needy leaners,” Mokhasi said.
“We’re doing this [donation] with the purpose of making sure that these leaners can see that they being appreciates. Their respective family backgrounds do not have to determine their performance in and out of school. We are also grateful that the schools welcomed us with enthusiasm and are looking forward to doing more in future,” Mokhasi said.
Mampateng Khuse, Kamogelo school principal was elated and said: “We are so grateful that our leaners and school were identified as one of the schools that teaches needy learners. We are very much happy for our learners, and we also hope that they’ll welcome the donation.
This [donation] will play a critical role in making sure that they concentrate on their education and perform better in their schoolwork. We hope that they will also appreciate the little that they have received. Please continue with your good work and assist other needy learners in our area.”
Speaking on behalf of Izanokhanyo leaners’ Lungile Kennedy was happy for the leaners and said they are happy that we as learners there are people outside and within our community who taking good care of us and want to wish them well in their good work.
Sipho None
Soweto Sunrise News
