Stationery drive gives Ocean View pupils a stronger start to the school year

A local non-profit organisation, Kids Are Kids, has helped dozens of Ocean View children start the school year with essential supplies through a recent stationery drive.

The drive took place on Tuesday, January 13, and was organised by Kids Are Kids founder Luke Koeries.

Through the initiative, 50 underprivileged children from the Ocean View community received stationery packs containing essential items such as exercise books, pens and Pritt, while two boys facing difficult circumstances were assisted with full school uniforms and stationery.

Mr Koeries founded Kids Are Kids 10 years ago, at the age of 16, after losing his father, a South African Police Service officer, to cancer when he was nine.

Raised by a single mother, he said those early experiences shaped his desire to support children facing hardship.

Over the past decade, Kids Are Kids has grown into a support hub for children in underprivileged communities, focusing on programmes that empower, protect, and inspire young people.

These include after-school homework support, feeding schemes that ensure children receive at least one nutritious meal per day, and fitness sessions designed to build confidence and teamwork.

The organisation also runs weekend sports and arts activities, community outings that expose children to new experiences, and a walking bus initiative to help keep children safe on their way to and from school.

Mr Koeries said the stationery drive was made possible through the support of sponsors, which helped ensure children were better prepared for the school year.

“Education plays a critical role in creating opportunities for the future,” he said.