‘Sis Pinky’ walks the extra mile to help pupils who lack school shoes
Well known for her motivational and funny videos on social media platforms, Ntombekhaya “Sis Pinky” Tsako decided to celebrate her 60th birthday in December last year by starting a shoe drive. She asked her friends to donate school shoes instead of buying her birthday presents.
“Last year, during the Covid-19 hard lockdown, a lot of people lost their jobs and I realised some children go to school with uniforms that are not in a good state.
“I started collecting school shoes in April 2020 and I ended up with 783 pairs of school shoes. The reason I did not wants gifts is that our situations are not the same in life, so I wanted to make a difference.”
Tsako helps impoverished communities across the province and she recently donated school shoes in Peddie and Gqeberha.
“As a foundation, #Sixtywalkachildtoschoolfoundation, we have managed to gain a partnership with a bank institution and we will be donating basic school essentials annually,” Tsako said.
Nominator Bongi Mashalaba said: “Through the drive, she donated shoes to needy schoolchildren in Peddie and Port Elizabeth, where she spent most of her time growing up.
“She is always willing to give her all to ensure that less privileged children have a better chance to succeed.”
Tsako also donated food parcels and blankets to the elderly and needy, and hosted lunch gatherings for them in December 2020.
“Tsako is a true humanitarian who is not reluctant to donate her time, money, experience, skills or talent to help create a better SA, even though she is not employed.
“She has made a measurable difference over the years as a passionate advocate for all those afflicted with poverty and distress,” Mashalaba said.
Mashalaba said most of the pupils were vulnerable and depended on their grandparents’ pension money. Shoes would protect the children from cold winter days and rough roads.
“At times, she acts as a motivational speaker, through her popular videos, where she delivers a message that inspires the audience to reflect on their own life in a profound way and that gets them to change their behaviour or take a specific action.
“She constantly inspires positive change among those who come across her videos and social network accounts.
“Her contribution to others becomes all the more impressive when you consider the many personal challenges that she herself has endured over the years,” she said.