Laces tight – heads high
The AfroCentric Group, together with the Sanlam Foundation, delivered 1,390 pairs of My Walk school shoes to learners at Gcobani Primary School and Lukhanyo Primary School in the Eastern Cape.
These are not ordinary shoes – they are part of an innovative sustainability project that transforms recycled healthcare materials into brand‑new footwear. Watching children step into their new shoes – standing taller, walking more confidently – was a powerful reminder that dignity and opportunity often begin with the simplest acts of support.
Part of Vision is Vital
This milestone forms part of our Vision is Vital initiative. Following recent visual screenings where 991 learners were assessed and many received prescription spectacles, we saw first‑hand that clearer vision alone is not enough. Many children were still walking long distances to school without proper footwear – an obstacle no child should face on their educational journey.
For over 15 years, Vision is Vital, in partnership with Vision 4 Change, has championed learner health by ensuring children can see the world and their potential more clearly. By adding My Walk recycled school shoes to this initiative, we deepen our impact, supporting learners not only in how they see, but in how they walk forward.
Sustainability meets social impact
The My Walk initiative is a joint effort between Netcare and Adcock Ingram Critical Care, designed to reduce healthcare waste to landfill and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions. By embracing a circular economy, the project shows how a green solution can meet business needs while benefitting society, supporting education, job creation, and enterprise development.
Aligned with Vision 2030
Grounded in AfroCentric’s Vision 2030 strategy, this work strengthens access to affordable healthcare while addressing broader social factors that shape wellbeing. Through collaboration, partnership, and shared commitment across our Group, we continue to deliver meaningful, lasting change in underserved communities.
The event was more than a handover of shoes – it was a step toward dignity, sustainability, and the brighter future every learner deserves.
