Local charity donates shoes for primary school students

Several students from primary schools across central Jamaica are to receive pairs of school shoes for free through an initiative by local charity, Give Back Jamaica (GBJ) through its Kickers Club.

This is the fourth year that the non-profit organisation has made the gesture. Among the schools set to benefit are Devon All Age, Porus, Ramble, Broadleaf and St Elizabeth Primary.

The shoes, which were purchased by Friends of Porus Association and Hudson Valley Dynamic Counselling, were distributed by Give Back Jamaica.

Hopeton Brown, president of Give Back Jamaica, shared how the recipients at the institutions were selected:

“We sought the assistance of the guidance counsellors at the schools. The schools in Porus were chosen by the Friends for Porus Organisation.” He added, “The Kickers Club Shoe Programme is an initiative that holds a special place in the heart of the organisation’s founder, Dr Evelyn Richardson, who herself experienced attending school barefoot. Dr Richardson’s personal experiences have helped to shape the mission of the Kickers Club. She believes everyone has a “shoe story”; unfortunately, many are unpleasant. Children who lack proper footwear often face ridicule and bullying, leading to feelings of shame and lowered self-esteem. This can adversely impact their academic performance and general well-being.”

Several institutions outside of central Jamaica have also benefited from the school shoe initiative since its inception in 2021.

“This is the fourth year for the Kickers Club and the second year for the Porus schools. The Kickers Club began in 2021 with over 400 pairs of school shoes donated to Crescent Primary School. Since then, we have donated shoes to schools in Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, St Ann and Hanover,” Brown said.

“The Kickers Club is our signature programme because it addresses the immediate needs of many of our students who don’t have adequate footwear for school. Thanks to the support of our board members and organisations like Friends of Porus Association, First Pentecostal Assembly of God and Hudson Valley Dynamic Counselling, we’re able to help even more children this year,” Brown said.

Vassell O’Gilvie, vice president of Friends of Porus Association, said the partnership with Give Back Jamaica was aligned with the mission of his organisation. He is also a board member of Give Back Jamaica, Inc.

“The Friends of Porus Association was very pleased with last year’s collaborative effort. This year, President Sephron Mair of Signature Society joined us with a donation of $100,000. This has allowed us to broaden our outreach to include Broadleaf and Ramble primary schools. We hope that others will see the impact of our efforts and join us in making Porus a better community,” said O’Gilvie.

Give Back Jamaica’s other initiatives include the Sponsor a Child Programme (which provides transportation and food assistance), the Belly Full Club (which provides an allowance for school lunches), and One Child, One Desk initiative which provides students with their own desks.