Kimberley man celebrates birthday by gifting school shoes
A KIMBERLEY resident, gender-based violence and femicide activist, and moral regeneration advocate Gregory Nyongane celebrated his 58th birthday last week by donating 130 pairs of school shoes and uniforms to those in need.
Nyongane shared that instead of hosting a big birthday bash or buying a cake, he chose to invest in improving the lives of impoverished schoolchildren at Zingisa Primary School.
“My target is to hand out school uniforms to 300 pupils this year through the assistance of our social partners and benefactors. The Society of St Vincent de Paul will be providing food parcels and a retail supermarket owner in Galeshewe also donated shoes for the second year in a row. Other donors committed to donating stationery. Uniforms will be distributed to schools in Ritchie as part of the campaign,” he added.
Nyongane, who was born in Old Greenpoint, revealed that this was the 22nd year he had commemorated his birthday in this meaningful way.
“I was inspired after witnessing a senior citizen struggling to buy uniforms for her grandchildren. It has been very fulfilling, as some of the children I assisted have since graduated from university and are successful entrepreneurs.
“This is my way of thanking the heavenly Father for the kindness and enrichment in my life, which has enabled me to bless others with every year that is added to my life.”
Nyongane explained that he sets aside 40 percent of his yearly bonus to fund his campaign.
“It encourages pupils to attend classes and ensures they are not ridiculed for lacking a uniform,” he said.
Nyongane invited stakeholders to join his “back-to-school” campaign, urging them to work together.
“Let us transform the lives of our children in order to secure them a better, sustainable future.”
Meanwhile, the United Africans Transformation party recently donated 10 pairs of school shoes to pupils at Flamingo Primary at the start of the new school year.