Happy Feet – Kwacele Donates Shoes

Kwacele Farming, a community-driven agricultural enterprise based in KwaZulu‑Natal, has launched a new outreach initiative designed to support rural learners by providing proper footwear. This recent campaign saw 10 brand‑new pairs of shoes donated to each of four rural primary schools:

• Hulett Combine School

• Sakhumuzi Primary School

• Nsonono Primary School

• Ubuhlebephupho Primary School

In total, 40 learners received shoes that promise not just physical comfort—but renewed dignity and opportunity.

Many children in rural areas walk long distances to school, often barefoot or in worn-out shoes. By supplying them with proper footwear, Kwacele Farming has addressed several key needs:

• Physical comfort and safety, reducing blisters, injuries or exclusion due to broken sandals.

• Self-esteem and pride, boosting learners’ confidence when attending class.

• Support for families, some of whom cannot afford essential items like school shoes.

Kwacele Farming’s initiative aligns with many South African and local efforts to supply learners with school shoes:

• The North West (NW) school shoe project distributed over 550 pairs to rural schools in July 2025, complete with polish kits and sports gear—a holistic package that improved school experience and physical activity engagement awsumnews.co.za+5The Bulrushes+5awsumnews.co.za+5The Bulrushes+4awsumnews.co.za+4awsumnews.co.za+4Ford From the Road+8Food for Mzansi+8Bata Official Website+8The Bulrushes+6Durban University of Technology+6Wikipedia+6.

• In January 2025, schools in uMkhanyakude (KwaZulu‑Natal) benefited from a donation of 132 pairs of school shoes, supported by government and private sector partners. The effort was recognized as part of a successful “back-to-school” campaign that contributed to improved academic outcomes in the region The Bulrushes.

• University-led and foundation‑run drives—such as DUT Hands of Compassion and the Edgar Legoale Foundation—have also made substantial contributions to rural schools by restoring learners’ dignity and boosting attendance and school pride Durban University of Technology+1edgarlegoale.com+1.

Although direct quotes from the four schools are not yet available, similar donation events have elicited heartfelt feedback:

• At Qhudeni Primary in Nkandla (March 2023), learners expressed pride and relief after receiving donated shoes, thanking their benefactors for restoring their dignity and enabling them to walk to school with purpose jikauluntu.org.za+4Durban University of Technology+4ngoconnectsa.org+4.

• From North West beneficiaries, principals and community leaders praised the initiatives for directly addressing barriers to education and inaugurating broader support efforts for learners Food for Mzansi.

What’s Next

Kwacele Farming hopes to:

• Monitor attendance and learner feedback, tracking improvement over the school term.

• Engage community support for scaling the initiative to more schools.

• Explore partnerships with local foundations or government, to fund further donations and support programs like stationery drives or school uniforms.

These initiatives consistently affirm that proper footwear is not a luxury—it’s an enabler of education and equal access.

Impact Goals & Aspirations

Kwacele Farming’s donation goals include:

1. Improved attendance: Comfortable learners are more likely to attend regularly.

2. Increased confidence: Learners feel less embarrassed and more engaged when uniform and footwear are on par with peers.

3. Reduced economic pressure: Supplying shoes eases burden on caregivers who may struggle to afford multiple essential items.

These initiatives consistently affirm that proper footwear is not a luxury—it’s an enabler of education and equal access.

Impact Goals & Aspirations

Kwacele Farming’s donation goals include:

1. Improved attendance: Comfortable learners are more likely to attend regularly.

2. Increased confidence: Learners feel less embarrassed and more engaged when uniform and footwear are on par with peers.

3. Reduced economic pressure: Supplying shoes eases burden on caregivers who may struggle to afford multiple essential items.

Voices From the Ground

Although direct quotes from the four schools are not yet available, similar donation events have elicited heartfelt feedback:

• At Qhudeni Primary in Nkandla (March 2023), learners expressed pride and relief after receiving donated shoes, thanking their benefactors for restoring their dignity and enabling them to walk to school with purpose jikauluntu.org.za+4Durban University of Technology+4ngoconnectsa.org+4.

• From North West beneficiaries, principals and community leaders praised the initiatives for directly addressing barriers to education and inaugurating broader support efforts for learners Food for Mzansi.

What’s Next

Kwacele Farming hopes to:

• Monitor attendance and learner feedback, tracking improvement over the school term.

• Engage community support for scaling the initiative to more schools.

• Explore partnerships with local foundations or government, to fund further donations and support programs like stationery drives or school uniforms.

📌 In Summary

Kwacele Farming’s recent donation of 40 new pairs of shoes to four rural KwaZulu‑Natal schools is not just charity—it’s a deliberate stride toward educational equity. By providing comfort, confidence, and economic relief, the initiative reinforces the idea that every child deserves to arrive at school ready to learn, without barriers. Their efforts echo successful national and provincial campaigns which consistently prove the transformative power of simply putting shoes on young feet.