PRIMARY school students in central Jamaica will benefit from a shoes initiative as Give Back Jamaica (GBJ) through its Kickers Club will be giving away school shoes.

This is the fourth year that the non-profit organisation has undertaken this initiative. Among the schools that will benefit are Devon All Age, Porus, Ramble, Broadleaf, and St Elizabeth primary schools.

The shoes, which were purchased by Friends of Porus Association and Hudson Valley Dynamic Counselling, are being distributed by GBJ.

Hopeton Brown, president of GBJ, said the students to benefit were selected with assistance from the guidance counsellors at the schools, while the schools in Porus were chosen by the Friends for Porus Organisation.

“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, [but] unfortunately, many are unpleasant,” said Brown.

“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,” added Brown.

Several institutions from outside central Jamaica have 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 more than 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,” said Brown.

“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,” added Brown.

Vassell O’Gilvie, vice-president of Friends of Porus Association said the partnership with GBJ was aligned with the mission of his organisation.

“The Friends of Porus Association was very pleased with last year’s collaborative effort. This year, President Sephrom 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.

In addition to the Kickers Club, GBJ has several other initiatives, including the Sponsor a Child Programme which provides transportation and food assistance, the Belly Full Club, which provides; an allowance for school lunches; and the One Child, One Desk initiative, which provides students with their own desks.