It all started with an idea from former Bloemfontein resident Kevin Grant. After moving to the UK, he wanted to show our beautiful South Africa to a friend that he had met while living there.

The two friends went to Cape Town and visited one of the more informal settlements, and after seeing the state of the children walking to school barefoot, they became disheartened and this sparked the idea to start helping people and children who aren’t fortunate enough to have shoes.

The project has been around since before Covid-19, but officially launched on Wednesday (24/4), and has collaborated with various schools, NPOs and organisations.

Grant approached St Andrews headmaster Roland Rudd to assist in the collection and dispersion of shoes as well as to connect with a wider network of people in Bloemfontein and the broader South Africa.

St. Andrew’s Headmaster and Cheetah Rugby Player Oupa Mohoje holding shoe donations. Photo: Casey-Lee Anthony

The campaign is also live in Ireland where schools as well as community members donate shoes. To date, Ireland has donated 30,000 pairs and that have been distributed between Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.

“We are confident that by next year we’ll bring in over 50,000 pairs, and the goal is to bring in 100,000 pairs of shoes every year,” said Roland, encouraging community members to participate to reach their goal.

“The aim is to reach the whole of South Africa; we don’t want to limit the need.” As far as the long-term goals of the project are concerned, their mission goes far beyond just local or major cities.

All donations can be made at the Toyota Stadium as well as St. Andrews School by the end of the school term, to hand them out by the start of winter.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg