In the constant consumer pressure dictated by current economic conditions it is usually the children who suffer most – learners going to school without food, stationery and, for that matter, school bags.
“Luckily most of the schools have soup kitchens to accommodate those learners who don’t have food at home,” a teacher pointed out. “However, there other needs that must be addressed – school shoes, stationery and school bags, which for many learners are luxuries, and seeing children barefoot in the winter without a jersey and with their books in a plastic bag are familiar sights at some schools.”
This is why help from businesses, non-profit organisations and readers is crucial.
Hermanus Times, with the help of Checkers, donated 46 school bags to Grade R learners of Grabouw High School and Mount Pleasant Primary. “We want to uplift the community, and as a community newspaper we would like to donate stationery, school clothes or food more often to schools in need in the Overberg,” Mariëtte Strydom, editor of Hermanus Times, pointed out. “But to achieve this goal we need the help of the community for donations. By helping children we not only create a better future for all, but also change the world for the better.”
Donations like school shoes, stationery, bags, socks and so on can be dropped off at Hermanus Times offices in the Birkenhead Building, 34 Main Road or phone 028 312 3717. We as one
We as one, a newly established non-profit after-school programme in Hawston, recently helped the foundation phase of Hawston Primary with stationery packs set to help them with what they need. Items such as glue sticks, erasers, scissors, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, pencil bags and A4 paper were donated to them.
According to a spokesperson for We as one, the organisation emanated from a need to assist after-care learners, unemployed youth and school dropouts in Hawston. “We will focus on ages 6 to 18, and activities include sports, games, dancing and visual arts. We also assist youth with problems such as poor academic achievement, gang involvement and drug use.”
For more information, phone 083 344 7572.