Local soccer players are doing what they can to ensure children on another continent are able to play the sport.
The campaign, called Cleats For Kenya, collects used cleats which are then sent to the African country for children there to use.
The inspiration to collect the soccer shoes came from a conversation between a MLA assistant and the deputy of sport from Kenya, who was touring Nova Scotia.
“I asked him, ‘what do you hope to get out of traveling all the way to Nova Scotia,’” says Peter Bragg, Cleats For Kenya organizer. “I'm used to hearing political answers to everything, stronger trade, international allies, but he said I hope to get soccer cleats for my country.”
Over eight million children play soccer in Kenya, but most play barefoot. Bragg is encouraging Maritimers to donate their old soccer cleats for the cause.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea and wonderful campaign because it does a couple things, it helps kids that need that kind of support, but it also helps to teach our own kids leadership and generosity and community mindedness,” says Todd Leader, with Halifax County United Soccer Clubs.
The campaign is catching on, but Bragg says one donation already stands out for him.
“A dad who donated his son's cleats, the little boy with a big heart passed away from CF last fall,” says Bragg. “Like his father said to me, ‘Joshua would be so happy to know his cleats would be going to someone else to make them happy, because he loved cheering people up, always reminding people to smile.’”
Bragg says the Kenyan deputy of sport is overwhelmed by the response.
“He was incredibly grateful, little shocked we took it on to this level,” says Bragg.
Cleats can be dropped off at Superstores in Nova Scotia until June 30. Once organizers know how many have been donated they will start to plan how to get them to Kenya.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Marie Adsett
