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Posted on Feb 27, 2019
When RCWO member Nigel Lever found out that Carol Waters and Suan Cross of Project Chance Africa had an opportunity to send some extra supplies to their school in Kenya, he took the reigns and made it all happen. Project Chance Africa supports the operation of a school and community centre in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya. 
 
 
In particular,  Carol hoped to find the students some soccer cleats, or "boots" if you happen to be British or Australian, for the students to wear for their matches against other schools.  Nigel reached out to club member Brett Brooking and to Alex Ambeault, Shoe Bank Canada's Ottawa Operations Coordinator, to see if they could help.  Alex, Brett, Nigel and Nigel's wife Mary combed the Shoebank Canada's Ottawa warehouse to find 20 pairs of used children's size soccer cleats.  They then filled the rest of a big hockey bag, donated by club member Doug Rowlands, with dozens of pairs of donated running shoes.
Alex, Nigel and Mary gathering shoes at Shoe Bank Canada Shoes gathered at Shoe Bank Canada Nigel and Mary Lever display the shoes gathered from the Shoe Bank Canada warehouse
Nigel handed off the bag of shoes to Charles of Project Chance Africa who, together with volunteers Leanne and Nadine (pictured), brought the shoes on their flight to Kenya.  Much thanks to Nigel for donating the fee for the extra baggage. 
Volunteers Leanne and Nadine take the bag of shoes on their flight to Kenya
The plan was to give all the shoes to Lifting The Bar Foundation (LTB), this is part of the school program that Suan Cross works so hard to raise money for. Some of the shoes also went to MCEDO children They are being distributed throughout Mathare by Futbolmas, an organization that works with many community schools in Mathare, and uses athletics to teach leadership, confidence, and other essential life skills.  This program is for both boys and girls.
Students from the Mathare slum were delighted to receive soccer cleats Students from the Mathare slum were delighted to receive soccer cleats Students from the Mathare slum were delighted to receive soccer cleats  Students from the Mathare slum were delighted to receive soccer cleats