While well-to-do children might complain about having to wear a school uniform every day, many learners in poorer communities have only one outfit, and it is worn through and ill-fitting. Perhaps their shoes and socks are full of holes, worn through as they walk miles to school and back every day. Perhaps they do not have jerseys.

The provision of good quality uniforms to these learners is more than about comfort: it is also about eradicating the most obvious forms of class distinction. Now a sponsor has stepped in to help the Big Tree Foundation ensure that learners can be properly clothed and so focus on the most important thing: their education.

A positive spin-off of this increased supply of school uniforms is of course the employment creation, as this clothing is proudly made in South Africa.

Implementation:
Vouchers will be distributed to selected parents, enabling them to receive a full uniform, including shoes and socks, from their local branch of Pep Stores, to the value of that voucher. The aim is to distribute 500 uniforms in this way in 2009, and to progressively increase from there.

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