OUR Shoes transforms ESG objectives into measurable actions  

Ensure Healthy Lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.  

 

The WHO constitution states that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and Our Shoes, by supporting grass root enterprises and local NGOs, enable children equal opportunities to engage in sports regardless of social class.

 

By providing children from the most deprived communities sports shoes, they can aim towards the WHO’s recommended 60 minutes a day of varied physical activity to gain health benefits. Physical activity helps children to thrive; it improves cognitive skills and mental health and the nature of these programmes work towards creating valuable life skills. 

Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. 

 

In low-income countries, completion of basic school education for the poorest 20% of households, such as the townships and communities we support, is a heart-wrenching 34%. Access to school for 67% of children in South Africa means having to walk to school often along poor roads.

 

To improve regular school attendance and the likelihood of school completion, Our Shoes is reducing financial barriers (where shoes are a requirement for attendance) and the effort required to attend class; factors that influence regular attendance and attainment. 

 

Education plays an important part in social mobility and succeeding in life. 

To reduce inequalities within and among countries.

 

40% of children in low – middle income countries are at risk of not achieving their developmental potential. Our Shoes seek to increase opportunities without discrimination and improve children’s self-worth, by helping to restore dignity in one world and increase the capacity for kindness in another.

 

The provision of shoes opens other avenues of support and by working equally with partners in direct contact with local communities we give a voice to those in need – on the other side children are also empowered, and see their actions (of giving) do have an impact.  

 

With more children engaged this creates further job and training opportunities for the communities and local charities. 

To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 

 

8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributed to clothing and footwear, with the footwear industry responsible for 1.4% of global GHG emissions, an equivalent to 700 million tons of CO2-eq.

 

A huge 40% of these emissions are outside of the Manufacturing and Raw Material Extraction stages and changes to consumption will help reduce environmental impact. Our Shoes introduce a delay to the standard end-of-life processing which includes incineration and landfill by extending the footwear life cycle; pre-loved quality shoes given to those most in need. 

 

With increasing bans and fees on second-hand apparel imports in developing countries Our Shoes present a sustainable solution that can fully support extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies. 

To revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

 

Through further partnerships Our Shoes continue to expand our reach; multiplying the number of lives and communities we impact positively.

 

We cannot do this alone. As we increase the number, frequency and range of each campaign we welcome opportunities for logistical support, ongoing collection points, shoe sorting volunteers, and storage locations. Our Shoes does not accept direct cash donations from the public; we rely on consistent corporate donations to fund our ongoing logistical expenditure. 

 

Help us achieve our goals by supporting our initiative; collectively is how we make a difference.