Lifestyle/Community
UJW brings cheer to scholars by paying for uniforms
Instead of giving Christmas presents, the Union of Jewish Women (UJW) in Port Elizabeth opted to fund lay-byes for school uniforms instead. In this, they followed the example of Professor Jonathan Jansen, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State (now at Stellenbosch University), who did the same thing.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
UJW paid off the lay-byes at PEP Stores in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. The excitement and relief shown by cash-strapped parents when they came to pay their final instalments before the start of the school year was heart-warming.
Some had lay-byes for two or three children, and their delight and the delight of their children when they collected their uniforms made this project all the more worthwhile.
Branch Chairperson Elaine Racussen says they sprang into action at the beginning of January, and inserted the following letter into all the packs still awaiting payment:
“We are happy to contribute to your child’s welfare, and are pleased that you have been able to clothe your child in a school uniform. We wish you a very happy 2019 from the Union of Jewish Women.”