From Ireland to South Africa, thousands of shoes are reaching children and communities in need, and their recent visit to Bloemfontein is proof of that.
Bloemfontein, South Africa (14 December 2025) – Inspiring change one step at a time, the Our Shoes Trust, based in Ireland, has been transforming lives in South Africa through powerful acts: providing footwear to children and communities in need.
It’s a privilege to be in a position to help, to be able to share something as simple as a pair of shoes with those who may not have easy access to them. The Our Shoes Trust exists to bring that comfort and dignity to those in need. Since its inception, the trust has grown from sending 500 pairs of shoes to distributing tens of thousands annually, with the goal of reaching 100,000 pairs each year.
The initiative was inspired when trustees Kevin Grant, originally from Bloemfontein, and Ciaran McHugh, an Irish national who visited South Africa and witnessed the pressing needs in Khayelitsha. Moved by the difference even a few hundred shoes could make, they partnered with Ronald Rudd and others to scale the incredible project. Today, shoes arrive in Cape Town via 40-foot containers, are stored and packed by partners like Stor-Age, transported to Bloemfontein by Meals on Wheels, and then distributed to communities.
Recent visits included Freedom Park in Bloemfontein, a patch of land surrounded by shacks, small trade stores, and grazing animals. Community football coaches helped coordinate distribution to children playing on the pitch, ensuring shoes reached those who needed them most. The project has also supported Meals on Wheels beneficiaries, orphanages, and the elderly, creating a ripple effect of care and compassion.
“Our main focus is on children in informal settlements, orphanages, old age homes, and places of safety,” says Roland. “We hope to restore dignity while also inspiring a spirit of giving across South Africa.”
One particularly powerful moment captured in the field shows Mrs Liza-Anne Mayer helping a young boy put on his new shoes. Highlighting the trust’s mission to bring dignity and smiles.
“Our hope is to bring 100 000 pairs of shoes, and change the lives of 100 000 people yearly, but at the same time start a movement of giving by the rest of South Africa.”
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