Sibusiso Zulu is a poet and social activist who believes that all South African children should have access to sneakers, regardless of their financial situation.
Being the considerate person that he is, Zulu began requesting his friends to contribute their sneakers to his cause, provided that they were in decent shape.
While giving a speech at a Constitution Hill event in Johannesburg, he disclosed the origins of the Sneakers4Change idea.
Watch Zulu share details about the project here.
“We use the entire sneaker culture as a tool to motivate young people, particularly the underprivileged ones,” he said, adding that over 10,000 pairs of sneakers have been gathered and donated so far.
Normally, Zulu and his group donate to orphanages, but occasionally they go to skating rinks, schools, or athletic associations to meet possible recipients.
He stated, “We also reach out to anyone who is in need.”
Zulu remembers how it impacted him as a child when his parents could not afford to buy him a shoe.
“I experienced the physical and psychological effects of not having appropriate footwear as a child, especially as a young person who is already struggling with difficulties related to self-confidence,” he recalls.
He stated; “Sneakers4Change honors and supports the sneaker culture as a whole, which has a significant impact on young people.”
They make use of this to encourage young people to follow their various passions with courage and boldness and to have a positive impact on them.
“We also establish a platform that gives young people access to opportunities and pertinent information. We accomplish this, in part, by hosting an annual sneaker art exhibition. We turn used sneakers into works of visual art. We organise an art exhibition in an art gallery after working with five beginning artists and putting them through a series of seminars led by professionals in the field,” he said.
He talks about the moment the project was successful, which is his most memorable recollection.
“We were privileged to give the Duchess of Sussex a private tour of our 2nd annual sneaker exhibition in 2019,” Zulu reminisced. “It was one of our biggest highlights.”
According to him, sneakers are more than just a fashion statement for young people—they represent a motivational and unique path to success.
“We make use of them to encourage young people to achieve greatness despite their circumstances. To actively pursue their goals and encourage constructive change in their families. To improve their neighborhoods, one sneaker at a time.”
To make donations or to find out more about the organisation, please www.sneakers4change.org or send an email: [email protected]
Editor’s note: Imagine growing up having no shoe. The is so much humiliation that comes with being poor and one of them is having to lack something and that is why people like this social entrepreneur, Sibusiso Zulu, should be commended for the work they do – helping people, in this case, young people and children, regain their “lost” dignity .
Description: Poet and social activist Sibusiso Zulu wants all children in South Africa to be able to wear sneakers, even when they can’t afford them. That’s why he started a sneaker collection project.
Editor: Thato Mahlangu
Project manager: Do4SA