For countless children in disadvantaged communities, walking to school barefoot is a daily reality that affects not only their learning, but also their confidence and dignity.
This winter, through its annual Winter Shoe Drive, Liberty is once again stepping in to change that reality for more than 12 000 learners across 25 primary schools in all nine provinces.
In Limpopo alone, Liberty has donated 1 096 pairs of shoes, with the handover that took place on 20 May at Makushu Primary School in Musina.
Liberty’s ongoing intervention continues to make a meaningful impact, particularly in underprivileged communities where many children still walk to school barefoot.
“We view education as going beyond teaching and learning in the classroom. It is about supporting learners holistically so they can learn with dignity,” says Marees Bostander, head of brand strategy at Liberty.
“This is why the Winter Shoe Drive is such a meaningful initiative, as it enhances the direct learner experience.”
The Liberty Winter Shoe Drive is an employee volunteerism programme, where employees pledge money from own their pockets to purchase school shoes, and Liberty matches the number of shoes pledged equally.
The programme was launched in 2017, and to date, more than 100 000 pairs of school shoes have been donated to learners across the country.
“The participation of our colleagues has been the bedrock of this campaign,” adds Bostander.
“We simply would not have seen this success without their unwavering commitment and involvement since its inception. We are truly grateful that, through their contributions, the Liberty community has been able to make an impact far beyond our standard educational initiatives.”
Michael Munyai, principal of Makushu Primary says, “we deeply appreciate this act of kindness from Liberty. We see it as one practical way for corporates to meaningfully get involved in the daily lives of our learners, as coming to school barefoot can be a significant barrier to learning.”
“We agree with Liberty that while it may seem like just a pair of shoes, this gesture extends to the critical socio-psychological element of the education system.”
“The gesture contributes positively towards aspects such as regular school attendance, allowing learners to focus on their education without the shame that comes from the stigma of not having a pair of shoes.”
“Our success as a business is interlinked with the success of the communities in which we operate. We are handing over these pairs with a sincere desire to see our communities thrive. And we see this initiative as a meaningful step towards that goal, every winter, one pair of shoes at a time,” says Bostander.
About Liberty:
Liberty is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Standard Bank Group and is currently one of the largest providers of long-term insurance solutions to South Africa’s retail affluent market. With a strong and relevant brand of more than 60 years, Liberty offers an extensive, market-leading range of products and services to help clients build and protect their wealth and lifestyle. This is enabled by Liberty’s 3 000-strong tied distribution force that expertly equips customers with knowledge to make financial decisions that add value throughout their various life stages. Liberty’s incorporation into Standard Bank provides synergies and advantages not only in South Africa but across the African continent, positioning Liberty as an integral part of a universal financial services organisation focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and superior value. Liberty’s wholly owned asset manager STANLIB is one of the biggest retail unit trust managers (including money market) in South Africa, with award-winning capabilities in property and fixed income, who together with their market-leading offshore partners are able to provide unique investment opportunities for clients. Liberty Group Ltd is a licensed life insurer and an authorised financial services provider.
Brought to you by Standard Bank Group.
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