ACC’s Mnqasela spends birthday ‘bringing joy and smiles’ to others
One’s birthday is usually considered a day for receiving gifts from loved ones who are excited about celebrating this milestone with you. But Masizole Mnqasela, president of the Alliance of Citizens for Change (ACC), used this day instead to serve the needs of the less fortunate by visiting Qhayiya Secondary School and handing school shoes and sanitary products out.
“It was an exceptionally good day, for we observed my birthday by sharing goodies with the learners at Qhayiya High School in Zwelihle. A special thanks to my partners Samaritan’s Feet International and Phawulethu for their wonderful support and kind hearts.”
Mnqasela, patron and ambassador of Samaritans Feet SA, said the day was about spreading love and hope, but also social justice. “Bringing joy and smiles to their faces touched my heart. This is a journey of bringing hope for every child has a dream and a vision to succeed. They need to know their dreams are indeed possible.
“We also distributed sanitary pads to the female learners as studies have shown that in South Africa about 7,5 million young girls miss school each month through not having the necessary sanitary products when they menstruate. This easily translates to 25% of school time annually. This is a violation of their basic human rights. Sanitary pads should be free, like condoms. Boys have access to free condoms, though it is a choice to have sex. But girls do not have access to sanitary pads when menstruation occurs naturally, something practically every woman has to go through.”
Mnqasela and several volunteers who joined him also spoiled the learners by washing their feet and chatting to them before they could don their new school shoes. He thanked the staff of Qhayiya Secondary, the councillors and community leaders as well as Nedbank Hermanus, which helped distribute the shoes and sanitary products.
“Special thanks to my partners Samaritans FeetSA for the shoes and Phawu Lethu for the sanitary pads,” he concluded. “Our appreciation also goes out to Creation Wines for hosting a beautiful world-class lunch for the media team and Samaritans FeetSA volunteers.”
In addition to this, another group of volunteers also distributed cookies, sweet treats and books to learners of Hawston Primary School as part of Mnqasela’s birthday celebrations.
