New shoes keep little feet warm on cold mornings

Maseyisini – Sikhanyiso Motsa, 10, is one of the vulnerable children that have received shoes from World Vision. Sikhanyiso is doing Grade Four at Ekuphumleni Primary School. 

This community is under Maseyisini Area Development Programme (ADP), which is funded by World Vision United States.

She was identified by the teachers to be one of the beneficiaries because she did not have shoes. On her first day at school during the second term, she was wearing her cousin’s shoes, which she received from World Vision as well.

She couldn’t contain her joy when she received her own pair of shoes. 

“I am so happy that finally I will have my own shoes."

“I am so happy that finally I will have my own shoes. This morning when coming to school, I didn’t have any shoes and my cousin decided to give me her pair of shoes. I enjoyed them because they are so comfortable,” Sikhanyiso says. “I didn’t know that today I will receive my own pair of shoes.”

“At least now I will be able to wear them everywhere including school and church,” she adds.

Sikhanyiso is a Sunday school member in her church and said this year’s theme verse is found in John chapter 3 verse 16 – ‘For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. She proudly cited this verse in front of other children and teachers.

Sikhanyiso, who looks shy, says she wants to be a nurse after completing school. Both her parents are unemployed and she does not have a school uniform. Instead she uses a sweater because of the cold.

One of the teachers, Sebenzile Mbingo, praised World Vision for distributing the shoes now that it is winter, since some children in the school have no shoes to wear to school.

“Your timing is very perfect. We are so surprised that you have chosen our school as one of the beneficiaries of your shoes. Some pupils in this school are very needy and the majority has their school fees paid for by the government under the free primary education program. Since we are next to the border gate to South Africa, most pupils attends school there,” she says.

Mbingo says the children who are without shoes would now be able to wear these comfortable black shoes to school and they would not suffer from cold.

Currently Swaziland is becoming cold especially in the morning and evening since it is winter. 

This school has no feeding scheme and there is no water. They used to have water until recently when a water pump engine was stolen. This is affecting the children, who are now forced to come their water as well as the teachers.

According to Walter Nkambule, who is the Development Facilitator for the ADP, World Vision has distributed school furniture such as desks and chairs for the children. This was because it was found that some children were using brinks as chairs and desks.

He encouraged the teachers to communicate with World Vision when they have needs they cannot meet on their own.