Overview The Annual Shoe Campaign is a flagship humanitarian initiative of the Centre for Transformational Leadership and Development (CTLaD). Each year, the campaign delivers durable, quality school shoes to children in underserved rural communities across Sierra Leone — children who would otherwise walk miles to school barefoot or in tattered footwear. What began as a modest local outreach has grown into a powerful symbol of compassion and educational empowerment, helping hundreds of children walk confidently toward their futures.
The Challenge In many of Sierra Leone’s remote villages, basic schoolwear — particularly shoes — remains out of reach for most families. Children trek between two and three miles daily over rocky, dusty, or muddy terrain just to attend school. Many come from families of small-scale farmers and fishermen living below the poverty line, and risk injuries, infections, and fatigue that discourage regular attendance. For these children, a simple pair of shoes is not a luxury — it is a source of dignity, safety, and motivation to keep learning.
Our Response CTLaD mobilises local and international support to supply quality shoes through a transparent, community-based process: identifying schools with the greatest need, sourcing durable and well-fitted footwear, and engaging volunteers, youth, and community leaders in each distribution. Every distribution event becomes a celebration — of resilience, of generosity, and of renewed purpose. The campaign is funded primarily through local contributions and volunteer support, and each year the reach grows wider.
Our Impact Since its inception, the Annual Shoe Campaign has reached dozens of villages across Sierra Leone’s rural districts, distributed thousands of pairs of shoes to underprivileged pupils, improved school attendance and confidence, reduced foot-related health issues, and strengthened CTLaD’s ties with communities, schools, and families. The campaign has also inspired partnerships with youth groups, church networks, and donors who share a common vision: transforming lives, one step at a time.
Our Goal CTLaD is committed to expanding the campaign each year, reaching more children in more communities. The vision is simple yet powerful: no child in Sierra Leone should be denied education, dignity, or safety for lack of a pair of shoes.
