Eswatini and Mpumalanga schools receive a number of shoes for those in need.
The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at the University of the Witwatersrand partnered with Isibani sikaNkulunkulu NPC, The Good Cause Foundation, Makhosazana Foundation and the South African Youth Business Chamber to deliver school shoes and dignity packs to learners in rural communities.
The initiative reached Mpumalanga on 19 March before extending to Eswatini on 20 March, responding to a common challenge in rural areas where learners often walk long distances to school without proper footwear. Designed with both dignity and sustainability in mind, the project introduced eco-friendly, water-resistant shoes to ensure that weather conditions do not interrupt access to education.
“As an organisation rooted in grassroots communities, we believe we have a responsibility to effect societal change,” said Siphilangenkosi Dlamini, President of the South African Youth Business Chamber, reflecting on the role of young people in shaping solutions. He added that collaborations such as this one create space for youth to actively lead and contribute to building the kind of society they aspire to see.
This sense of shared responsibility sits at the heart of African philanthropy. According to Professor Bheki Moyo, Adjunct Professor at Wits Business School and Director at CAPSI, giving on the continent is not simply an act of charity but a deeply embedded social practice grounded in community and mutual care.
Expanding on this, Digital Communications specialist at CAPSI, Ntando Hoza, noted that the Centre’s work continues to reframe how giving is understood. “Through our research, teaching and partnerships, we show that giving in Africa is about community, shared responsibility and creating real opportunities for people, especially young people,” Hoza said.
For many of the organisations involved, the initiative also created an opportunity to rethink how impact is delivered. “We didn’t come to do charity work; we came to create sustainable change,” said Mthunzi Ndlela, Chairperson of The Good Cause Foundation, emphasising that the focus was on addressing real, everyday challenges faced by learners.
That intentionality is reflected in how communities were selected and engaged. Leading the Makhosazana Foundation, South African singer Azana, born Makhosazana Princess Masango, explained that the initiative was grounded in understanding need before acting. “The schools visited have undergone a process of assessment to ensure maximum and meaningful impact,” she said, noting that collaboration across organisations has strengthened their reach within the social investment space.
Masango further highlighted that the initiative went beyond material support. “Uplifting the state of mind of both learners and educators is just as important. We give with a smile and words of affirmation, reminding them that what starts in the imagination can become reality through perseverance,” she said, adding that the journey has opened new possibilities for future partnerships.
Similarly, founder of Isibani sikaNkulunkulu NPC, actress and community advocate Luyanda Zwane, pointed to the power of collaboration in deepening impact. “It is with great joy that we have partnered with Wits and the Youth Chamber to enhance the school experience for learners in a meaningful way,” Zwane said. Through this partnership, learners received not only school shoes but also dignity packs, including sanitary products and basic essentials.
Returning to the broader purpose of the initiative, Zwane added that such interventions help ease daily challenges faced by learners while contributing to a more confident and hopeful generation.
In Eswatini, the impact of the initiative was equally recognised by community leadership. Member of Parliament Mduduzi Dlamini of the Nkhomiyahlaba constituency expressed appreciation for the collaboration, noting that families who cannot afford school shoes now have renewed support. He emphasised that enabling learners to attend school with dignity is essential to their educational journey.
Echoing this, Dlamini noted that communities such as Sigombeni continue to benefit from partnerships that are both practical and people-centred, ensuring that interventions respond directly to lived realities.
By weaving together research, community action and youth leadership, the Isibani Initiative reflects a growing movement of African philanthropy that is intentional, collaborative and rooted in dignity. It shows that when institutions and communities come together with purpose, giving becomes more than an act, it becomes a sustained commitment to change.
