Global Soles Takes Footwear Initiative To South Africa In August 2008

Initial Global Soles Boardmembers in South Africa - 2007

New York, NY -- Born on a mission trip to South Africa in August of 2007, the vision of Global Soles was conceived by Rotimi Akinnuoye, while visiting the country with Emmanuel Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York (Rev. Anthony L. Trufant, Senior Pastor). While in South Africa touring various missionary sites, Akinnuoye noticed the vast amount of children running, playing and walking around during the country's winter with no shoes on their feet. The weather was cold and the streets were unpaved and dirty. Akinnuoye along with his fellow missionaries and initial board members Oluwakemi Sosanya, Sharen Milner, Christopher Green, Monte Chandler and Marilyn Bien-Aime decided to meet the need of providing shoes for the children and adults in South Africa. It was then that he discussed with the team the need and desire to form Global Soles. "The images that I saw touched my soul," says Akinnuoye. "Immediately the vision was ignited and it became apparent that a not-for-profit organization be formed." South Africa will be the inaugural initiative, but the goal for Global Soles is to expand to Ghana, Nigeria, Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, and other rural impoverished territories. The goal is to deliver at least 5,000 pair of shoes to South Africa beginning August 9, 2008. The next mission trips for Global Soles will be to Nigeria and Ghana (December 2008), Haiti (April 2009), Jamaica (August 2009) and Guyana (December 2009).

We live in the United States, a country where shoes are taken for granted. In many parts of Africa sneakers are considered a luxury. "We are looking for quality, moderately priced footwear, but not necessarily brand name," says Vice President Oluwakemi Sosanya. "The children and adults living in the shanty towns of South Africa walk barefoot on rocky, dirt roads exposing their feet to rusty metals and glass, urine, feces and various bacteria which could lead to acute infection including gangrene and/or amputations." Global Soles is requesting new footwear for boys and girls, ages 3 to 18 years old, including sneakers and black dress shoes for school and church. The women of these townships are burdened with the responsibility of caring for their children, husbands and communities through various tasks which include washing clothes by hand outside in the winter while living in substandard shanties with no heat or insulation; the majority of these women are also HIV positive. We are looking for comfortable rubber sole shoes for adult women and men.