The TEARS Foundation is challenging South Africans to help mothers pay off their lay-by purchases in time for children to go back to school.
South Africa (12 January 2023) – Paying for someone’s lay-by leading up to the opening of schools was a concept that started going viral in January 2021. The TEARS Foundation is challenging South Africans to help mothers cover the cost of new school uniforms.
The idea is to visit a local store (Pep and Ackerman’s, which still provide lay-by options) and ask for a lay-by that contains school uniforms and supplies. You then pay for all or a portion of the lay-by. The customer is then notified their lay-by amount has been updated or paid in full. If it is paid in full, they are asked to come and collect their items.
Many parents in South Africa have had to put school uniforms on lay-by. This has been done because money is incredibly tight at the moment.
Lay-by allows a person to purchase items they need and pay them off over a period. This method is a safer way to pay something off than to put it on credit. Not many stores allow lay-by these days, but Pep and Ackerman’s stores still offer the service.
The TEARS Foundation is challenging South Africans to lend a helping hand this January, and help a mother clothe her child.
The TEARS Foundation was started by Mara Glennie, who was determined to transition from being a GBV survivor to becoming a support service for women in need. She was inspired to launch the foundation and offer the support she never got when she needed it most.
What Mara noted during her own struggles with gender-based violence was it was very hard to reach out for help. This inspired her to open a helpline that works to connect women to services that will aid them in getting away from abusive situations or accessing the medical care needed to overcome sexual trauma.
The team take part in the lay-by challenge every year and hope to touch more lives by getting South Africa involved too!
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