Unam students put best foot forward
The third-year business administration students at Unam came up with the initiative to donate shoes to community members of the Havana informal settlement and the handover was done on Thursday, 2 May.
Initially starting off as a school project with the aim of obtaining good marks, the initiative sparked an interest in the Unam students to fulfil a greater need in society. Not only did some of them let go of shoes they loved, they gained a deeper greater understanding of how rewarding charity can be by observing the smiles they put on the faces of the underprivileged.
The class group was led by their lecturer Dr Wilfred April, who was present at the handover. April identified the area in which the handover, was done as well as setting everything up with community leaders.
The 600 pairs of shoes were received by Filipus Shambwangala, a community leader who thanked the students for their kind and selfless gesture. He explained to the recipients of the donation that the students have the community at heart and want to help as much as they can. He applauded them for their endurance after hearing some of the challenges that they faced during the collection of the shoes.
A citizen of the Havana community and a Unam student herself, Paulina Ekandjo received a gift from the students, handed over by Petrus Kuwamwene. Ekandjo expressed gratitude and picked out a nice pair of high heels for herself from the footwear donated.
“These business students are laying the foundation for us so that we can also help others one day,” she articulated.
Mirriam Maluwaya, a student in her third year at Unam mentioned that they have identified a need as business people and despite not gaining a profit, have decided to fulfil that need. “We have to lift others while we are rising,” she said. She described the gesture as a manner of teaching especially for the younger children that when they grow and become influential they should make a difference in society.
The collection process was chaotic because people did not understand the cause and were unwilling to donate but after a thorough explanation and persuasion from the students, they were convinced as alluded to by Maluwaya. She concluded by saying that she would like to continue the project.
Ester Kamati
Initially starting off as a school project with the aim of obtaining good marks, the initiative sparked an interest in the Unam students to fulfil a greater need in society. Not only did some of them let go of shoes they loved, they gained a deeper greater understanding of how rewarding charity can be by observing the smiles they put on the faces of the underprivileged.
The class group was led by their lecturer Dr Wilfred April, who was present at the handover. April identified the area in which the handover, was done as well as setting everything up with community leaders.
The 600 pairs of shoes were received by Filipus Shambwangala, a community leader who thanked the students for their kind and selfless gesture. He explained to the recipients of the donation that the students have the community at heart and want to help as much as they can. He applauded them for their endurance after hearing some of the challenges that they faced during the collection of the shoes.
A citizen of the Havana community and a Unam student herself, Paulina Ekandjo received a gift from the students, handed over by Petrus Kuwamwene. Ekandjo expressed gratitude and picked out a nice pair of high heels for herself from the footwear donated.
“These business students are laying the foundation for us so that we can also help others one day,” she articulated.
Mirriam Maluwaya, a student in her third year at Unam mentioned that they have identified a need as business people and despite not gaining a profit, have decided to fulfil that need. “We have to lift others while we are rising,” she said. She described the gesture as a manner of teaching especially for the younger children that when they grow and become influential they should make a difference in society.
The collection process was chaotic because people did not understand the cause and were unwilling to donate but after a thorough explanation and persuasion from the students, they were convinced as alluded to by Maluwaya. She concluded by saying that she would like to continue the project.
Ester Kamati
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