Plea from Helping Hand for needy school children

BUGLE REGIONAL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE, THE 13 Jan 2012 Page 9

The first day of school is a big challenge for most new Grade One pupils and many a tear is shed when their moms and dads wave them goodbye. For an underprivileged child who doesn’t have a schoolbag or the necessary school stationery, the first day of school is even more daunting.

Solidarity Helping Hand has distributed more than 11 500 schoolbags to needy Afrikaans Grade Ones since the start of the Schoolbag Project in 2007. Helping Hand received a record number of 5 000 applications for schoolbags for 2012.

The aim of the project is to ensure that not a single Afrikaans Grade One pupil goes to school without the necessary stationery, because the right equipment can help children to get an education and to escape from poverty. Helping Hand wants to break the cycle of poverty through a policy of upliftment through education, starting on a child’s first day of school and spanning his entire school career and post-school training. Armed with a schoolbag, a Grade One pupil can face the first day of school and the rest of the year head-on.

Well-known singer Joe Niemand reiterated this sentiment when he recently accompanied Helping Hand on a visit to Laerskool Generaal De la Rey in Johannesburg to create awareness of the Schoolbag Project.

“Just like these little ones will go to school next year, we will all face challenges in the coming year, but my wish for you is that you will face up to the new year and say: ‘I won’t be afraid’.”

There are several ways in which the public can help make sure that a child is not scared to face the first day of school: – Text the word lassie” to 34388 (an SMS costs R2) and an agent will contact you to discuss your contribution. The cost of a schoolbag is R200. – Phone Helping Hand on 0861 25 24 23 or 012 644 4390, or go to the website www.helpinghandfund to find out more about the Schoolbag Project. – Make a donation. The bank details are: Solidarity Helping Hand, Absa account: 407 225 0017, Centurion branch: 632 005. Quote “lassie” as reference. Fax proof of payment to 086 218 3216