School shoes and lap desks on Perseverance Primary’s birthday
On Friday 1 February 2019, the South African Jewish Museum and Edubiz surprised Principal Auburn Kelly of Perseverance Primary with a collection of gently used school shoes and five brand-new lap desks. We also received a surprise to find that our visit coincided with the school’s first birthday celebrations!
Perseverance Primary is a container school located in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain that caters for children from Grades 1 to 4 in the Cape Flats who have not been accommodated at other schools in the area. Under the dedicated and compassionate leadership of the new principal, Mr Auburn Kelly, enrolment is steadily increasing.
The man who held the reins during its first year, Principal Patriot Mazimela, spoke in December 2018 at a Progressive Principal’s Association function about how much the school had changed the lives of children who otherwise would not be exercising their right to education. He also mentioned that many of the learners, 85% of whom are from single-mother families, cannot afford to buy school shoes.
After hearing Mr Mazimela speak, Belinda Selikowitz of the SA Jewish Museum contacted Herzlia Highlands Primary School in Vredehoek to drive a collection of second-hand shoes in good condition. Zaida Julius of Edubiz also donated five lap desks. It was wonderful to be part of the birthday celebration and to see Perseverance Primary going from strength to strength, thanks to the enthusiasm and care of Principal Kelly and his great team.
