Foundation donates school shoes
MORE than 100 underprivileged children from Mdantsane received new school shoes yesterday thanks to the hard work of the Peppy Thomas Foundation.
The foundation was founded by a number of professionals in the Eastern Cape who mainly live in Buffalo City Metro.
Yesterday the foundation, after collecting donations from various individuals, handed over the shoes to six schools in the township.
Also attending the event were Buffalo City executive mayor Xola Pakati, portfolio head for infrastructure and engineering Ncedo Kumbaca, ANC Youth League regional leader Xolani Witbooi and other municipal officials.
Peppy Thomas Foundation secretary Samkelo Ngwenya said the group of eight had thought of starting the foundation in December, when they hosted a Christmas lunch for disadvantaged children in Mdantsane.
Ngwenya said members of the foundation initially did community projects individually but decided to group together as they were all friends and shared the same vision.
“We used to do our own projects in the community but we decided last year that it would be better to get together. We were, fortunately, all friends with the same vision.”
Ngwenya said Peppy Foundation mainly focused on child development through sport, arts and cultural programmes.
The six schools who benefited from the project, were Zimasa, Mtyeku and Shadrack primary schools, as well as Sandisiwe, Moses Mabida and Loyiso senior secondary schools.
Buffalo City executive mayor Xola Pakati congratulated the foundation for their “noble and encouraging” act.
He urged the group to continue inspiring other people to plough back into their communities.
“As BCM, we take our hats off to congratulate the Peppy Thomas Foundation and the wonderful work they are doing. It is very inspiring to see the youth give back to their communities.
“Often, people we grow up with tend to forget to plough back into their communities once they become successful. Community development is not only for the state but also members of the state,” Pakati said.
A parent of one of the beneficiaries, Nololwabo Benguza, said she was very grateful to the foundation.
“I am so grateful to Peppy Thomas, my child did not have school shoes. I am unemployed and I cannot afford to buy a new school uniform.
“They have helped us a lot. May they continue the work that they are doing,” Benguza said.
Ngwenya said the shoe collection project was just one of many initiatives by the foundation, and they would be engaging in a number of projects this year.
He said the group was planning a sanitary towel drive at the end of this month and would later also host extra classes for matric pupils in an effort to help improve the province’s pass rate. — qaqambam@dispatch.co.za