The days of walking to school barefoot are over for at least 20 Mdantsane children.
Well known for producing music and making crowds dance locally and nationally, 34 East London DJs are proving that there is more to them than just partying.
The musos, members of an NGO called United East London Deejays, launched their first community development programme on Friday with the donation of 20 pairs of school shoes to needy Zukisa Primary School pupils from NU1.
Some of the well-known tune spinners in the NGO are Metro FM-awards nominee Mobi Dixon, DJ Nko, Charlie Deepstar, Blomzit Avenue, Dj Nunuza and Smash Booi.
Chairman Nkosinathi Sikoti said they chose Zukisa Primary because pupils from the area were regarded as the “poorest of the poor”.
He said: “We have decided to give back to our East London community. This is money we made from our previous gigs where we were supported by the same residents from the East London areas. This is also aimed at encouraging and motivating pupils about the importance of education.”
Pupils who benefited ranged from ages of five to 10.
School principal Noluthando Wulushe said: “We have 11 boys and nine girls who will benefit. Some are in Grade R. They were identified by the class teachers who know their needs and see them coming to school barefooted and how they are often teased because of their backgrounds.
“They live in shacks and they come from poor backgrounds where their parents are unemployed.
“The parents were delighted when we told them, some of them were teary. The dignity of their children will be restored and now they will be like other children and not feel disadvantaged,” Wulushe said.
DJ Charlie Deepstar said they were hoping to adopt the school and wanted to build a solid and life-changing partnership with the community.
“This is our first programme but we will continue doing other programmes too. We will also focus on the challenge of drugs and alcohol abuse in our communities and see how we can assist,” he said. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
EL DJs come to the party for shoeless pupils
Well known for producing music and making crowds dance locally and nationally, 34 East London DJs are proving that there is more to them than just partying.
The musos, members of an NGO called United East London Deejays, launched their first community development programme on Friday with the donation of 20 pairs of school shoes to needy Zukisa Primary School pupils from NU1.
Some of the well-known tune spinners in the NGO are Metro FM-awards nominee Mobi Dixon, DJ Nko, Charlie Deepstar, Blomzit Avenue, Dj Nunuza and Smash Booi.
Chairman Nkosinathi Sikoti said they chose Zukisa Primary because pupils from the area were regarded as the “poorest of the poor”.
He said: “We have decided to give back to our East London community. This is money we made from our previous gigs where we were supported by the same residents from the East London areas. This is also aimed at encouraging and motivating pupils about the importance of education.”
Pupils who benefited ranged from ages of five to 10.
School principal Noluthando Wulushe said: “We have 11 boys and nine girls who will benefit. Some are in Grade R. They were identified by the class teachers who know their needs and see them coming to school barefooted and how they are often teased because of their backgrounds.
“They live in shacks and they come from poor backgrounds where their parents are unemployed.
“The parents were delighted when we told them, some of them were teary. The dignity of their children will be restored and now they will be like other children and not feel disadvantaged,” Wulushe said.
DJ Charlie Deepstar said they were hoping to adopt the school and wanted to build a solid and life-changing partnership with the community.
“This is our first programme but we will continue doing other programmes too. We will also focus on the challenge of drugs and alcohol abuse in our communities and see how we can assist,” he said. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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