Some 1000 pupils from Juja sub-county have a reason to smile after a community based organization (CBO) donated shoes to them.
The pupils at Gachororo primary school, located in Juja’s biggest informal settlement, were picked from humble families that couldn’t afford shoes for their school-going children.
The donation was made by Dom Shoes, a group that has been targeting needy and vulnerable learners in Juja constituency and other schools within the Nairobi metropolitan area.
The beneficiaries are part of hundreds of learners in the area who continue to face serious health and safety risks after being forced to attend school without shoes due to poverty and the current high cost of living.
Children who attend school barefoot are currently faced with hard times exacerbated by the scorching sun. They are compelled to walk and play on the dusty playfield without the foot wares.
The situation according to parents and teachers worsens during rainy seasons that leave the school compound flooded, exposing the learners to injuries and risks of contracting waterborne diseases. Many pupils access the few lavatories in the school without shoes.
Gachororo primary school headteacher Ann Wanjiru hailed the donation as a shot-in-the-arm for many destitute learners who have been attending school without shoes. She noted that out of the 3000 pupils at the school, only a quarter can afford decent footwear.
“We have so many pupils who attended classes without shoes and this exposes them to many risks including injuries and infections. When it rains, flood water is usually mixed with raw sewerage which spikes waterborne diseases such as typhoid and our children are usually the most affected. We are grateful for the kind gesture by Dom Shoes,” Wanjiru said.
Parents led by Eunice Wairimu noted that the current high cost of living and poverty levels within Gachororo informal settlement has left many of them cash-strapped to a point they cannot fully facilitate their children’s education.
“Most of us are casual laborers and the meagre pay we receive can only feed our families. Buying basic school requirements like shoes for our children is usually a toll order. We are however grateful for the donations and we believe that our children are safer and can now focus well on their studies,” she said.
Dom Shoes CEO David Madaga said that the initiative aims at promoting equity in access to education and protect children from a myriad of risks.
He noted that since the inception of the programme last year, the group has already distributed 4,000 pairs of shoes to needy learners in different schools adding that they aim to reach out to over 10,000 learners by the end of this year.
“Our mantra is ‘no barefooted child in school’ and we are expanding our scope to more schools so that we can help more vulnerable learners and help them concentrate on their studies. We understand that most parents are struggling to cater for their children’s basic needs and we only want to help them navigate the tough times,” Madaga said.
Dr Joseph Gichui, a philanthropist and a community leader in Juja constituency, reiterated that learners must be according a good learning environment including ensuring there are enough amenities within learning institution such as sufficient lavatories and classrooms.
“It’s shocking that at this age our children are suffering from issues that can be prevented. It starts with the right leadership that is cognizant of all issues bedeviling members of the community. We shall be partnering with groups and well-wishers like Dom Shoes to help the less privileged in the society,” Dr Gichui said.
Dr Gichui called for sustained support from government, private sector players and well-wishers to address the challenges facing learners in informal settlements and safeguard their right to education.
