4 April 2013 - To be a vulnerable child living in South Africa is a path filled with many challenges. According to the Department of Basic Education there are over seven million children in South Africa living without shoes. Many children walk far distances to school every day without wearing any shoes.  “A pair of shoes are a basic item that everyone requires, a life without shoes can damage a school-goer's self-esteem and hamper their learning ability,” says Nicola Vogel (Communications and Fundraising Manager at Adopt-a-School). The Adopt-a-School Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports the creation and enhancement of a conducive learning and teaching environment in disadvantaged schools.

Zando.co.za, together with its partners BizCommunity, Build A Bear Workshop®, CourierIT, Dialogue and Infidels have setup a national campaign to drive awareness and donate shoes to Adopt-a-School. The campaign called www.getthemsomeshoes.co.za will launch on Thursday the 4th of April 2013 and end on the 30th of June 2013. Three travelling bears will embark on a three month adventure to raise awareness and encourage sign-ups. Each bear will start its journey in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The campaign is supported by ambassadors Freshly Ground, Tarryn Kay (AKA TK from Goodhope FM), Terence Pillay (East Coast Radio) Weza Solange (Channel O presenter and blogger) and welcomes anyone who would like to adopt the initiative and spread the word. For every thirty unique sign-ups, one pair of shoes will be donated to a child in need. Signing up is really easy, anyone over the age of 18 can visit www.getthemsomeshoes.co.za or SMS their Name and Email address to the Shortcode 37511 (at a cost of R1/SMS).

The campaign idea originated with Zando.co.za in 2012. A colleague of a friend whose shoes had been stolen tweeted Zando.co.za requesting another pair. Zando.co.za responded to the tweet and hand delivered the guy a pair of shoes. Zando created a YouTube Video called GetThisGuySomeShoes. A year later the campaign evolved into something bigger and the company is asking everyone else for their help by simply signing up. The shoes will go to a school/ schools that most need it and this will be decided through Adopt-a-School who have national reach. The shoes will be handed over once the campaign is complete (campaign is scheduled to end on the 30th June 2013). “The Foundation will select a beneficiary school (s) in a rural area, where there are many vulnerable learners who walk long distances to school,” said Nicola.

The bears are sponsored by Build-A-Bear Workshop. “Teddy bears are cuddly and put a smile on your face. They are also linked to a playful childlike nature. This made them a great connector to the aim of the campaign. The aim being: to give as many underprivileged children the advantage of owning a new pair of 100% genuine leather school shoes, thus enabling them to further their education with one less worry,” said Gennaro Pisapia (PR and communications manager at Zando.co.za).