Giving 20000 Shoes to Kids in Africa

In 2014, when Emmanuel Ntibonera and his family returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo, they were struck by how many needs there were. Chief among them was preventing diseases from being contracted through bare feet.

Once back home, Ntibonera began collecting shoes to send to Africa. With the support of Liberty University and Kick'n It for a Cause, more than 20,000 pairs of shoes were eventually sent down under.

Emmanuel Ntibonera

Eight years ago, Emmanuel Ntibonera and his family fled their village in the Democratic Republic of Congo when rebels took over their village. With nine children without shoes, they walked miles barefoot to Kenya where they found refuge. For nearly a decade they lived in a refugee camp before eventually immigrating to America.

Once Ntibonera arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina and enrolled at Liberty University, he began to comprehend that his life was being prepared for something greater than himself.

He wanted to make a difference for his people back home in Congo, so that's when he discovered his mission: collecting gently used sneakers to send to Africa. So off he went, collecting shoes from around America.

Over the months that followed, Ntibonera amassed more than 10,000 pairs of shoes--enough to fill every inch of his family's house. But when he met with Liberty Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser and Chris Strachan, founder of Kick'n It For a Cause, Nasser challenged them to double the collection.

After returning home, Ntibonera joined Strachan and Nasser in sending shoes back to Africa. In July 2017, they delivered 20,000 pairs of shoes to children in the Congo.

Ntibonera and his team also donated 3,500 pounds of rice, 2,600 pounds of beans, and 2,200 pounds of cornmeal (donated by Gleaning for the World), along with soap, clothing items, candies and toys to children in need at a time when many families were facing financial difficulty. These gifts were given as encouragement to keep going in life's journey.

Ntibonera's work is making a difference in lives both within his country and beyond. He hopes his story will encourage others to believe in the transformative power of one person's actions.

Emmanuel Ntibonera's story of survival, faith, and finding one's purpose should serve as an encouragement to us all. It serves as a reminder that no matter where you come from, you can achieve great things. Additionally, it serves as a reminder that there will always be someone out there who needs your assistance.

Chris Strachan

Chris Strachan, MD, MBA'22 was responsible for wearing multiple hats as executive vice chair of clinical affairs in the Department of Emergency Medicine at IU Health Physicians and medical team manager for Indiana Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue - with plenty of pressure to manage. He was an experienced medical professional, adept at saving lives for charity. To this end, he took time to research all the MBA programs available in town to find one that met his individual requirements. Strachan found an executive MBA program with an award-winning curriculum delivered by some of Indiana's most innovative learning partners. As a result, Strachan was able to find the program with the most value for his budget.

David Nasser

Nasser was born in Iran and fled to America as a refugee during the Iranian Revolution. At 18 years old, he accepted Christianity and founded DNO - a ministry that reaches thousands of people annually through radio broadcasts, TV programs, and events.

He has served as campus pastor at Liberty University, the world's largest collegiate ministry, and now directs For Others Collective in Franklin, Tennessee. He frequently speaks at churches, conferences, and festivals around the country on culture development, leadership development, and systems building topics.

Nasser began his Christian journey and credits two Christian friends for tipping a struggling waitress more than $100 at a restaurant. This act of generosity taught him to look beyond his own needs and spurred him on toward deeper relationship with Christ.

After becoming aware of the plight of African children, Ntibonera felt it was time to give back. He began by contributing money to organizations in his home country that assist those less fortunate.

He then realized there were many children without shoes, leaving them vulnerable to disease and even death. Determined to make a difference, he thought of giving pairs of shoes to kids in Africa who might otherwise go without.

His idea was born and he decided to implement it through the program Kick'n It For a Cause, an international service trip that sends students to Africa to give back through other means. With help from some well-known friends, he was able to secure more than 30,000 pairs of shoes that were donated and shipped over in five days!

Nasser's story of providing 20000 shoes to children in Africa is another illustration of God's hand at work in his life. As someone who feels called to serve others, Nasser is doing so with the support of those close to him at Liberty University.

Soul of Africa

Giving 20000 Shoes To Kids In Africa is a man with a big heart. He's an inspiring traveling preacher who takes time out of his busy schedule to deliver quality shoes to underprivileged children in Third World countries. If you would like to get involved in his cause, please reach out via his website or email him directly.

He also has a web store where you can shop the newest footwear trends. His line of barefoot shoes are tailored to flatter your natural foot curves with materials that are both soft and sturdy. Plus, each purchase comes with an exclusive footwear care kit which helps keep your shoes in top condition.

He's also credited with founding the first shoe-based charity program in the US, his organization having generated $2 million in wages for African workers and provided educational opportunities to nearly 18,000 children. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is creating jobs where they are scarce - by setting up a production facility in Ethiopia to manufacture his shoes - creating benefits both for its local community and company alike.