FAQs

Who do the shoes go to?

The shoes go to our community partner, Tafika. Tafika runs a sports academy in northern Malawi which develops talented young athletes aged 14 and up, coaching them to regional and national level. At present, the academy includes volleyball, netball, football and athletics.

Why are you sending trainers all the way to Malawi?

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with most people surviving on less than £2 a day. A new pair of sports shoes is equivalent to three months’ salary – simply not affordable for the vast majority of people.

Good quality sports shoes are hard to find in Malawi. Most trainers are low-grade imports which don’t last long and are made for fashion, not sport.

Scotland has a strong relationship with Malawi, dating back to 1859 when the explorer and anti-slave campaigner David Livingstone first visited.

How do the shoes get there?

We work with a charity partner, The Banana Box Trust, which sends the shoes from Dundee in Scotland by sea in shipping containers. The journey takes approximately three months. Containers usually go twice a year, depending on how many donations are gathered.

Is it cost-effective?
Shipping is the cheapest way of sending goods. We box the shoes as efficiently as possible to make best use of space – it works out at roughly £2 per pair of shoes sent.

What about the environment?
By sending shoes from the UK which may otherwise be thrown away, we are extending their lifespan and supporting reuse. The shoes are used several years and, even when worn out are often recycled for other purposes, including rubber fishing floats!

As for transport, sending the shoes by sea is most efficient and lowest impact method.

What kind of shoes do you need?

The shoes go to volleyball, netball and football teams so any reasonable sports trainers (and football boots) are suitable. They should be suitable for competitive sport (rather than fashion trainers) and in good condition, with plenty of life left in the soles and uppers. Minor wear and tear including small holes is acceptable. As well as being suitable to train and compete in, the shoes are a big boost to athlete morale so please consider this when donating.

Do you accept clothes and sports equipment as well?
At the moment the priority is sports shoes. We do with with Strips4Malawi, which collects team strips. If you can help with this please contact ray@strips4malawi.scot

How many shoes do you need?
As many as we can get! We support over 200 teams and as players move on, more shoes will be needed for the new athletes. We plan to continue shipping twice a year, which equates to 15,000 pairs!

Where can I donate shoes?
Please see the website for details. If there isn’t a site near you, we’d love to hear any suggestions for one.

Do you work in other parts of Malawi and in other African countries?

Our current focus is in northern Malawi, thanks to the relationships we have with our partners on the ground plus the long-standing relationship between our two countries. Depending on the success of the project, and future funding, we may expand.

Is ShoeShare a faith-based project?

ShoeShare is non-denominational. Our only aim is to support young people in their sporting development.

How else can I help?

As well as giving shoes, there are many ways in which you can help. We always need funds to cover our shipping costs, as well as volunteers to collect, pack and transport the shoes to the warehouse in Dundee. If you would like to get involved please contact hello@shoesharemalawi.org