Preacher blesses learners with new shoes to stay in school
Mabitsela started a foundation to help more families
Pupils from a school in a Limpopo village were over the moon after they recently received brand new school shoes donated by a preacher.
A generous Roman Catholic Church preacher, Donald Mabitsela, 40, of GaChwene St Bernard Catholic Church, visited the Seetla Primary School at GaRankhuwa village in Moletjie, where he donated 15 pairs of school shoes last week.
Mabitsela said he decided to do something about the plight of the poor because most families are now struggling to make ends meet due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mabitsela, who also comes from a poor family, said he can relate with what most learners were going through. He started a foundation which seeks to help children from poor backgrounds by donating school shoes.
“I didn’t have school shoes during my time [as a child],” he said.
Mabitsela said he decided to start a foundation after meeting a woman at a local mall, who asked him to buy shoes for her son who was at the time wearing a torn pair of shoes.
“I saw this as a calling from God; it resulted in the birth of Father Mabitsela Foundation.
“I have realised that many pupils end up dropping out of school for no good reason other than they don’t have school
shoes.”
He said he is already getting positive feedback and support from both members of his church and the local business community as many are keen to be part of his campaign to change lives of children from poor families.
“I am trying to lead by example and use my influential status to lure potential donors to assist as most families have lost their source of income and some lost their loved ones as a result of the pandemic.”
Mabitsela said he is already living his dream of playing a role in boosting confidence and self-esteem among pupils from rural villages.
He said as education is an important tool that can help people to be able to change their situation and get out of poverty, it was critical to ensure that children are comfortable when they are
in school so that they can focus on learning.
He said it was amazing what a decent pair of shoes can do to a child, as it uplifts their confidence and ensure they don’t get demoralised as they seek to get educated.
He said his campaign of donating school shoes will move to other village schools.
During our visit to the school, teacher Rudolph Kgabo, said: “We are honoured to be visited by a man of God who decided to donate school shoes to those who don’t have them to restore their dignity and confidence.”
The school governing body’s representative Hellen Letlalo said: “This is amazing to witness... The donation gives us courage hat there are those who think about us and remember us during these trying times.”