New shoes at Spectrum Primary
In Ennerdale Extension 5, hope arrived in the form of new school shoes at Spectrum Primary School – and the effort was well worth it.
Fibre Network Operator Evotel, a member of the CYNK Group, partnered with passionate community champion Levona Steenveld to bring dignity, warmth, and renewed confidence to learners at the school, which is surrounded by informal settlements in Johannesburg South, through a large-scale donation drive.
This initiative forms part of Evotel’s long-running Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which has, over the years, provided essential support to underprivileged children across South Africa. And the drive doesn’t stop here.
The company’s latest partnership with Steenveld reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind because of poverty or difficult family circumstances.
“I could clearly see how many learners were vulnerable”
For Steenveld, the project is deeply personal. Through her organisation, All Is Restored (AIR), the former police officer of 16 years – and multiple community upliftment award winner – has worked for more than 14 years in local schools, running prevention and awareness programmes while supporting vulnerable learners.
Her daily presence in classrooms and on playgrounds exposed her to the silent struggles of many children, as she spends much of her time involved in school feeding schemes.
“Walking into these schools, I could clearly see how many learners were vulnerable and underprivileged. Close to 60% of them come from really difficult home environments – some from impoverished families, others from drug-infested households,” Steenveld explained.
Many of these children attend school barefoot or in tattered shoes, braving cold and rainy mornings without proper protection, often wearing torn jerseys, trousers or skirts.
Over the years, Steenveld tried to respond by identifying a few of the most desperate cases and gathering enough resources to buy five or six pairs of shoes at a time. But the need was overwhelming. Evotel responded to her call for help, and Marketing Manager Nadi Smith couldn’t resist assisting and contributing towards the future of South Africa’s children.
“Walking barefoot in the rain and cold”
What was initially planned as a small donation quickly grew far beyond expectations. Together with Steenveld, they distributed more than 64 pairs of brand-new school shoes to learners who needed them most.
The impact was immediate and deeply moving, as children who had endured ridicule or discomfort because of their worn-out shoes now walked taller, prouder, and more comfortably.
“We simply could not wait any longer for some of them,” said Steenveld. “They were walking barefoot in the rain and cold. We had to get them proper shoes right away.”
This drive marked a milestone for Steenveld – the first large-scale shoe distribution she has managed after years of small, ad-hoc efforts. With Evotel’s support, she was finally able to meet the needs of dozens of children at once.
But Steenveld’s work does not stop at shoes. Through All Is Restored, she coordinates regular visits from volunteers, including barbers who give learners free haircuts. Supported by organisations like McDonald’s Mzansi Together, these visits provide grooming and self-care for children whose families often cannot afford such services.
Dream bigger than their environment
“We believe when you look good, you feel good,” Steenveld explained. “It’s amazing how a simple haircut or proper school shoes can transform a child’s confidence. They start feeling that they belong, that they are not different from the other kids. And that can change everything about how they view themselves and their future.”
Most Spectrum Primary learners come from surrounding informal settlements such as Lolly One, Lolly Two, Kokotela, Lake View, and Extension Four, while others travel from as far as Orange Farm. Poverty, instability, and broken family structures dominate their lives.
Yet Steenveld insists that these children carry within them the potential to become South Africa’s future doctors, nurses, leaders, and innovators.
“It is sad that many of them think that because of their circumstances, they cannot become what they were meant to be. That’s why I am in the schools – to push them to dream bigger than their environment,” she said.
She also called on more corporates to step forward: “Not everyone is in this work for money. Some of us left paying jobs because of passion. Corporates should realise that investing in children is investing in South Africa’s future.”
For Evotel, this partnership aligns with its philosophy of giving back to the communities it serves. As part of the CYNK Group, the company continues to look for meaningful ways to improve lives beyond fibre connectivity by meeting the most basic needs of learners – dignity, self-worth, and confidence.
Smith said Evotel is helping unlock the potential of the next generation.
For Steenveld, the support has been life-changing: “I wish more companies would do what Evotel has done, because together we can restore hope to children who might otherwise believe they are destined to repeat the cycles of poverty and addiction they were born into.”
