More than 100 schoolchildren and individuals from two communities have benefited from a social intervention project aimed at alleviating the financial burden of persons living in deprived communities.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the Asikabew Methodist Primary School in the Eastern Region and Atekyedo, a community in the Effutu Municipal District of the Central Region.
The project, an initiative of Cosmo Cosmetics Ghana, a beauty and skincare brand, saw the beneficiaries, including chiefs, teachers, and parents, receiving over 100 essential school supplies.
The items, handed over to the beneficiaries over a three-day period (January 1 to January 3, 2025), include new shoes, backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, Cosmo Cosmetics branded water bottles, and cosmetic products, among other essential supplies.
The donation, which forms part of Cosmo Cosmetics Ghana’s corporate social responsibilities, was in partnership with Edna Frimpong, also known as the Shoemakergurl, who doubles as the Creative Director of the Ghanaian footwear brand, Fash Slippers.
It is also part of the brand’s commitment to helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that focus on quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities (Goals 4, 5, and 10).
The donation also forms part of a broader initiative to inspire hope and provide opportunities for children in need.
Dubbed “Shoes for the Shoeless,” the initiative is a charity program aimed at providing shoes to individuals, particularly children, who lack proper footwear due to economic hardships.
The Country Manager for Cosmo Cosmetics Ghana, Comfort Nomo, explained that with about three out of five children in deprived communities across Africa walking to school barefoot, it was important to intervene to prevent the children from dropping out of school.
In addition, she said that the lack of basic necessities in the country goes beyond shoes, with many children struggling to access essential school equipment like notebooks, pencils, and backpacks.
“Walking barefoot not only discourages children from attending school but also exposes them to preventable diseases such as Peripheral Neuropathy. As a result, 70 percent of these children drop out, which threatens the community’s social fabric and stifles their potential to contribute to society,” she added.
In line with that, Ms. Nomo said Cosmo Cosmetics was interested in standing up for people by thinking about their needs and working towards a brighter tomorrow. “Our motto has always been to deliver affordable, high-quality products to every home. When it comes to the little ones—the future of our world—we go the extra mile to make a meaningful impact.
“Our partnership demonstrates the power of collective effort. We’re proud to contribute to the community’s growth,” she said.
Looking into the future, Ms. Nomo expressed the brand’s commitment to empowering communities, adding, “We are dedicated to supporting education, promoting sustainability, and inspiring positive change. Future initiatives will continue to prioritize the well-being of children and their communities.”
For his part, the Headteacher of Asikabew Methodist Primary, one of the beneficiary schools, expressed gratitude to the two partners for their benevolence. “The Shoes for the Shoeless initiative has brought joy and hope to our children. Thank you, Cosmo Cosmetics and the Shoemakergurl,” Mr. Douglas Mega said.
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