Donated shoes going the distance

Six months after receiving new shoes, the children are still wearing them, even though some are no longer in good shape. The fact is that most of these children do not have any other shoes other than the TOMS shoes donated to them by World Vision. These shoes have saved many children from walking barefoot when going to the neighbourhood care points or to formal schools. The colour of the shoes – black - enables the children to wear them to school.



In January 2011, World Vision Swaziland distributed these to a number of neighbourhood care points (NCPs) all over the country. Mkhatsini – Mahlabatsini NCP also received 80 pairs of TOMS shoes, out of which 31 were given to the children in the care centre and the rest were distributed to the rest of the needy children in the community.

One of the recipients, Nduku Fakudze, is only five years old and the last born in a family of five. His father works at one of the manufacturing firms in Matsapha and his mother stays at home to watch them. They live in a one room stick and mud hut, which all the family members use as a bedroom. All of his father’s money is spent on food and school fees, with assistance from government bursaries.


Somandla Maseko is another child who attends classes at the NCP. He is one of the many children whose first pair of shoes are these ones donated by TOMS. Somandla is also a last born in a family of seven. He is an outgoing child with a carefree spirit. When asked if his shoes are comfortable, Somandla smiled and nodded his head and said yes. He said his mother has bought him a pair of socks so that his feet could fit in the shoes at first. Now he seems to have adapted well as he hardly puts on the pair of socks. 


According to their teacher, Sibongile Ndlandla, none of the children have complained about any discomfort from the shoes. “The shoes are very comfortable for the children and it was nice of World Vision to give out this kind of shoes. Most of the children walk for long distances to the NCPs and schools without boarding transport, so these shoes are suitable for such conditions,” she said. 


In 2000, Gilgal Area Development Program (ADP) constructed this NCP and further provided them with a 10,000 L water tank. Since the ADP is located in one of the driest areas, they use the tank to harvest rain water to use when cooking for the children.