{"id":33468,"date":"2026-03-17T10:25:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=33468"},"modified":"2026-03-17T10:26:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:26:00","slug":"a-simple-pair-of-shoes-a-restored-sense-of-dignity-for-emfuleni-primary-school-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/a-simple-pair-of-shoes-a-restored-sense-of-dignity-for-emfuleni-primary-school-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"A simple pair of shoes, a restored sense of dignity for Emfuleni Primary School learners"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT Social Outreach Committee donated 54 pairs of school shoes to learners at Emfuleni Primary School, restoring dignity and bringing hope to the community.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

17 March 2026 | Story by: Thomas Rasehloka| Picture: Supplied<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are moments in life where something as small as a pair of shoes carries the weight of dignity, belonging and quiet confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 13 March 2026, staff members from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), through the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) in the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, stepped into Emfuleni Primary School in Bophelong with more than just a donation. They arrived with intention, with care and with an understanding that for many learners, the journey to school is not always walked with comfort or pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through its Social Outreach Committee (SOC), the department donated 54 pairs of school shoes to learners who need them most. For some, this meant replacing worn out soles. For others, it meant wearing shoes to school for the first time in a long while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Established over seven years ago, the SOC has quietly embedded itself in the surrounding communities, offering support through motivational talks, guidance on university applications and donation initiatives that respond to real and visible needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Letsabisa Lerotholi, Chairperson of the SOC and Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, reflected on the deeper meaning behind the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe try to assist as far as we can. Although shoes are a major need, they are not the only challenge the learners face. Some learners do not even have proper school uniforms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes the committee\u2019s work even more compelling is that it is sustained largely through personal contributions. It is a reminder that impact does not always begin with large budgets. Sometimes it begins with individuals who choose to care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For educators at Emfuleni Primary School, the donation spoke directly to the daily realities they witness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Diopelo Korong, a Foundation Phase teacher, described the complex backgrounds of many learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe deal with learners from different backgrounds, some from poor households, some from child headed families, and others from homes with no source of income,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that beyond the physical gift, something more profound had been restored. \u201cVUT has not only donated shoes but has also restored pride in our learners\u2019 lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principal Mr Daniel Letsaba echoed this sentiment, grounding it in a broader truth about community and responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current generation of parents faces many challenges compared to previous generations,\u201d he said. \u201cIt truly takes a village to raise a child, and through the SOC\u2019s support, the smiles of our learners will be restored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was not the committee\u2019s first visit to the school, and it will not be the last. As winter approaches, the need for warm school uniforms grows more urgent, and the SOC continues its call for support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Nkele Boloyi, also a member of the SOC and Lecturer in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, affirmed that the initiative is supported at faculty level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Executive Dean is aware of the project and is always supportive of activities and initiatives related to the Social Outreach Committee,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a time where institutions are often measured by scale and visibility, it is acts like these that quietly redefine what impact looks like. Not always grand, not always loud, but deeply human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Social Outreach Committee welcomes donations from individuals and organisations willing to make a difference. Those interested can contact Ms Retha Visagie on 016 950 9243.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because sometimes, restoring dignity begins with something as simple as ensuring that a child walks into school with shoes on their feet and confidence in their step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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