While Chris Mauerberger, chairperson of The Podlashuk Bellinchamp National Heritage Foundation Trust, was driving through Simondium at the end of January, just after Simondium Primary School had closed for the day, he noticed many learners walking home, many of them barefoot.
Mauerberger was horrified to think there were children who did not have the “luxury” of owning a pair of school shoes.
He approached the principal, Davene Vermeulen, immediately for a list of children without shoes.
This enabled him to launch a fundraising drive to purchase shoes for all of them.
“I was sent a list of 83 children’s names and their shoe sizes,” Mauerberger said. “I contacted a company in Port Elizabeth, The Little Slipper Company, and asked them for a quote on the shoes I required.”
He asked the company for discounted prices as he wished to roll this project out to all the primary schools in the area.
“They came back to me immediately and I was blown away by the fact that they donated all the shoes as part of their social responsibility drive,” Mauerberger said.
“They would not accept any payment for these shoes at all.”
He also approached Elsa Post of Postnet Franschhoek, who immediately volunteered to come on board and her company organised transport of the consignment to Franschhoek.
On 12 April, all 83 children were presented with their shoes, and the excitement on their faces was almost tangible.
The Podlashuk Bellinchamp National Heritage Foundation Trust is to roll out this initiative to other primary schools in the area and will proceed with raising funds for the next project.
“A huge thank you to The Little Slipper Company and Postnet Franschhoek,” said Mauerberger.
