Chinese Embassy Joins 1 million school shoes campaign

Chinese Embassy Bolsters South African Education with School Shoes Donation in Cape Town

A meaningful handover ceremony took place in Cape Town on May 3, as part of the “1 Million School Shoes Campaign,” organized by a South African charity dedicated to donating one million pairs of school shoes to underprivileged students across the country.

Marking the organization’s first event of 2025, the ceremony saw shoes donated to five primary and secondary schools in the Western Cape Province, bringing together over 100 participants, including local government officials, tribal chiefs, teachers, and student representatives.

The “1 Million School Shoes Campaign,” a Tshwane-based non-profit established in 2015, addresses a critical barrier to education for many South African children: the lack of proper footwear. In a country where poverty and inequality remain significant challenges, school uniforms—including shoes—are often mandatory, and walking barefoot to school can expose children to physical harm and social stigma.

According to a 2019 UNESCO Institute for Statistics report, 1 in 5 African children lack proper footwear, contributing to a 20% reduction in school attendance. The campaign’s mission is to ensure that no child misses out on education due to this basic need, fostering a society where every African child can attend school with dignity.

During the event, Minister Zheng Bingkai, representing the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, handed over the donated shoes to some of the children who have been selected as beneficiaries.

In his speech, Minister Zheng underscored education as a priority in China-South Africa cooperation, stating, “We hope the shoes donated by the Chinese side will help improve students’ learning and living conditions, and help them grow up and become successful.” He also expressed his aspiration for the students to become ambassadors of China-South Africa friendship, enhancing mutual understanding and ties between the two nations. The donation aligns with China’s broader educational initiatives in Africa, often linked to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which promotes cultural exchange and development through programs like Confucius Institutes and scholarships.

The impact of such initiatives is significant. A 2016 study in The World Bank Economic Review on the TOMS shoe donation program in El Salvador found that providing shoes modestly increased school attendance, particularly for boys, and encouraged more outdoor activity. In South Africa, a 2020 study published in the Journal of Development Economics estimated that addressing footwear needs can boost attendance by up to 15%, a crucial step toward educational equity. For the children in Cape Town, the new shoes mean safer walks to school and renewed confidence. As one student shared, “I can now go to school without my feet hurting, and I feel proud to wear these shoes.”

The participants, along with the head of the “1 Million School Shoes Campaign,” expressed heartfelt gratitude to China for its support of South Africa’s education and public welfare. They voiced their eagerness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese Embassy, signaling a strengthening of bilateral ties. This event not only provided essential resources but also highlighted the power of international collaboration in addressing local challenges.

China’s involvement reflects its commitment to supporting education as part of its global outreach.

As Ambassador Wu Peng noted in a related X post the donation embodies a shared goal of helping South African students “thrive and succeed.” The ceremony in Cape Town serves as a testament to the transformative impact of a simple pair of shoes—and the enduring friendship between China and South Africa.