Medihelp steps up with MyWalk: 3 400 pairs of new school shoes are donated to hopeful learners

No shoe journeys quite as far as the humble school shoe: from looking sharp and shiny on the first day of school, long strolls to class, frantic running during break times, and kicks and jumps during an impromptu soccer match or two, to its final walk home, worn and tired-looking. A pair of school shoes can make or break a school day, and, unfortunately, an estimated one million South African learners make do without proper school shoes.

At Medihelp Medical Scheme, we understand the crucial role school shoes play in the success of our learners’ education. In line with our dedication to being kind to people and the planet, we are honoured to support the MyWalk initiative. Through our corporate social investment initiatives, we are humbled to announce that our donation sponsored 3 400 pairs of shoes in 2024.

Medihelp supports MyWalk to help our learners succeed 

According to Carina Groothof, marketing practitioner at Medihelp, the first batch of 100 pairs of shoes was gifted to the Khomani San community in Andriesvale, a quiet Northern Cape village situated in the Kalahari. Groothof travelled to this tiny town north of Upington to present the school shoes to the learners. She was greeted with a buzz of excitement and appreciation as the children received their new shoes. “We danced in the sand, took pictures of the kids in the shoes, and just had an altogether great time. It was a beautiful day and experience for me personally.   

“This community is so isolated that it would be easy to pass by without knowing they live in the area. The kids truly appreciated the shoes and the visit. It seemed their excitement came from seeing friendly faces who stopped by to say hello.”

The success of the MyWalk initiative is most palpable in the areas where fellow learners bully children who attend school barefoot. Groothof says, “These kids go to school with peers whose families are more privileged and can afford shoes. It was remarkable to witness the impact that one pair of shoes can make, both physically and emotionally.”

Why school shoes matter

With 10 million learners walking to school every day, a pair of school shoes is nothing less than a basic necessity. However, parents and caregivers often do not have the means to buy quality school shoes for feet that walk expansive distances to the classroom and back home again.

Learners have to walk on rough terrain, braving the scorching summer heat and winter morning chill. Wearing a good pair of shoes to make the journey becomes a health concern, as they protect feet from cuts and infections – injuries that cause absenteeism.

Many experience shame and even bullying when they attend school with bare feet or shoes in poor condition. This creates a hostile school environment that harvests feelings of insecurity and lack of confidence and, ultimately, compromises learners’ dignity.

Medihelp’s support of MyWalk highlights the importance of fulfilling learners’ most basic needs with practical and innovative solutions. By supporting this initiative, we help ensure that learners can attend school with dignity and comfort, taking a step toward a brighter future for South Africa’s youth.

From medical waste to shiny new shoes

MyWalk is a non-profit initiative presented by Netcare and Adcock Ingram Critical Care.

This multiple award-winning initiative does more than donate shoes; it is a celebrated example of upcycling excellence and a circular economy, offering a green solution to meet a business’s material needs while benefitting society by supporting education, job creation, and enterprise development.

The school shoes are made from single-use PVC drip bags, oxygen masks, and associated tubing. Participating Netcare Hospitals dispose of non-hazardous, uncontaminated materials into dedicated MyWalk bins. The PVC waste products are collected from the bins in custom-made trailers and sorted. The sorted products are washed and granulated at the MyWalk recycling plant, ready to be processed into quality school shoes. Lastly, these brand-new pairs of shoes are packaged and distributed to local learners.