Dozens of children received free haircuts and snacks ahead of the new school term through a community outreach initiative aimed at boosting confidence and easing the financial burden on struggling families.
The programme, held on 24 July at Corner Metsing and Bling Printing, offered free haircuts and snacks to children as part of a back-to-school campaign aimed at restoring confidence and dignity among young learners.
Organisers said the initiative was inspired by the challenges faced by many parents who rely on social grants, which often fall short of covering all of their children’s school-related needs.
Ward 1 councillor candidate Siyabonga Mthethwa said the programme was about far more than giving children fresh haircuts.
“The objective of this programme was to bring back the dignity of the black child. We understand the high unemployment challenges facing our country and especially our communities. Many parents depend on social grants, which are often not enough to meet all their children’s needs. As an organisation, we felt it was our responsibility to do something that would boost our children’s self-esteem, make them feel good about themselves and add value to the community we live in,” said Mthethwa.
To ensure the event was safe and well-managed, organisers introduced a ticket system. A total of 120 tickets were issued, matching the programme’s available budget and allowing organisers to monitor attendance and prevent overcrowding or children going missing during the event.
Although only 80 ticket holders attended, the beneficiaries included homeless children and youth from within and around Ward 1.
Mthethwa said the turnout would not discourage the organisation from expanding the initiative.
“Our vision is to grow this into a programme that takes place every school term before learners return to class. To achieve that, we will need additional resources and support. We appeal to local businesses and the broader community to partner with us so that we can reach even more children in the future.”
The organisers hope the programme will become a regular community initiative, helping more children start each school term with renewed confidence while strengthening support for vulnerable families.
