The Shoe Aid for Africa

Blackburn Rovers star Benni McCarthy has pledged his support for the Shoe Aid for Africa campaign which Emile Heskey, Matthew Upson and Rob Green are supporting this week. The campaign kicked off on Monday and finishes tomorrow. Over 500 schools across the UK will be donating their unwanted shoes in a bid to change a child’s life in Africa.

Benni McCarthy says: “Coming from a poorer part of South Africa myself, I know what it is like to be an aspiring footballer in Africa. I was lucky enough to be spotted and given the opportunity to play for a number of prestigious European clubs. But there are many more young African children who can only dream of what might be. I am therefore delighted to support the Shoe Aid for Africa campaign that brings shoes to African children who may otherwise go barefoot and happy to donate a pair of my boots this worthy cause. If it helps just one child fulfill their dreams, it’s worth it”

We have also received donated boots from:
Wayne Rooney
Steven Reid
Frank Lampard
Emile Heskey
Wayne Bridge
David James
Steven Gerrard
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Joe Cole

The Shoe Aid for Africa campaign was launched for the first time last year by shoe care experts Kiwi, to give UK families a chance to change lives in Africa. A selection of schools, Sure Start centres and Scout groups kindly donated over 20,000 pairs of shoes last year. The shoes were distributed in Mozambique, South East Africa in April this year.
  
Following on from the success of last year’s campaign, Kiwi have this year set themselves an ambitious target of collecting 50,000 pairs of shoes (more than double last year’s donation), for distribution in Africa in 2010. Old shoes will be cherished by children who have never known the luxury of owning a pair of their own, giving them an enormous boost of self-esteem and pride.

The 2009/2010 Shoe Aid for Africa campaign will follow a football theme to align with the Football World Cup being held in South Africa in 2010. As a result, Kiwi are very pleased to have the support of The FA for this year’s campaign. The FA have recognised the great work the campaign does and are enthusiastic and passionate about football at a grass roots level. England team members Emile Heskey, Matthew Upson and Rob Green have also pledged their personal support and donated their boots to the campaign.

Emile Heskey says: “I consider myself very lucky to play football for a living, it's a great privilege. It's always important to put something back and do what you can for those less fortunate. Shoe Aid for Africa is a great way to raise the profile of children living in poverty, and I'm more than happy to donate my boots to the campaign.”

Collection bins will be located for the week in over 500 schools across the UK to collect your unwanted shoes.

For more information on the campaign visit www.shoeaidforafrica.org

We are focusing on collecting children’s sports shoes, but all children’s shoes as well as adult shoes are welcome. Please note high heels and Wellington boots are not suitable.
    
So dig out those old shoes and you could make a difference this October, who knows your old sports shoes could even kick start the career of a future football star!