Johannesburg – Learners at two school in Alexandra, Johannesburg, were delighted when rugby legend Bryan Habana paid them a visit this week to hand over shiny new My Walk school shoes.
The South African former professional rugby player visited Ikage and Iphutheng primary schools in the township, where he also offered them words of encouragement for their future.
Habana’s non-profit organisation, the Bryan Habana Foundation, joined the My Walk “Step into Greatness” campaign, by donating 3 000 pairs of new school shoes to the learners.
My Walk is a social, environmental sustainability enterprise and supplier development initiative sponsored by Netcare and Adcock Ingram Critical Care. The initiative produces fully recyclable high quality school shoes for learners through an innovative upcycling project; and is delivered in partnership with Southern Basadi, a black women-owned waste-management enterprise that is supported by Netcare and Adcock Ingram Critical Care.
The former Springbok rugby player believes in the power of education and school sports to help make a child’s dreams a reality.
“I heard about this powerful initiative when Netcare’s chief executive Dr Richard Friedland delivered a talk at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). I was so inspired by this innovation and its impact on society and the environment, I immediately knew that I want to be involved because when children have access to resources… Starting with fundamental essentials like school shoes and the opportunity to develop their skills, this makes life-changing differences for them and their community,” Habana said.
He added that the Bryan Habana Foundation aimed “to inspire young leaders to help create a world where they can feel safe, valued, and empowered”.
Meanwhile, Delanie Bezuidenhout, general manager of My Walk, a registered public benefit organisation (PBO), said that this initiative can make a big difference to a child’s life.
“Essential footwear can make such a difference to a child’s daily life and their potential to make the most of the opportunities that education brings, with broader benefits for their communities over time.”
My Walk school shoes are made from high quality recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reclaimed from safely used healthcare consumables including drip bags and tubing, at 20 participating Netcare hospitals in Gauteng.
Netcare’s group director human resources and transformation Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba, who is also the chairperson of the My Walk board, is thrilled with the initiative.
“We cannot thank Bryan enough for coming out to inspire the children with his own journey to success, and I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Bryan Habana Foundation for enabling thousands of children to receive a pair of these durable shoes to make their educational journey a little easier,” he said.
For as little as R35, you too can “Step into Greatness” and donate a pair of school shoes, thereby investing in a child’s future.
Step into Greatness – get involved and sponsor a child’s school shoes.
To sponsor a child’s school shoes and make a difference through the My Walk initiative is simple.
∎ Choose the amount you want to donate, for example:
A pair of school shoes for one child – R35.
Five pairs of school shoes for five learners – R175.
Ten pairs of school shoes for 10 learners – R350.
To enquire about bulk corporate orders, sponsorships or donations contact Delanie Bezuidenhout on [email protected].
∎ Deposit your donation into the My Walk 2022 sponsorship bank account (See details below):
Account name: My Walk Made with Soul NPC
Account number: 62848314366
Bank: RMB
Account type: Corporate current account
Branch: 255005 RMB Corporate Banking, Johannesburg
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ
Reference: Your Name.
Money raised in this way will be used to donate shoes to children through non-profit organisations, as part of wider community upliftment initiatives.
“Small steps today can set children on the path to achieving their dreams and ambitions for the future and we hope that by opening this sponsorship drive to the public and other businesses will help many more learners get a new pair of school shoes,” Bezuidenhout said.
“My Walk will be able to touch the lives of more children by gifting them with a pair of shoes, encouraging them to ‘Step into Greatness’ and grow the skills that will be crucial to empowering the next generation.”