Page 33 - Waterfall City Issue 6 June 2025
P. 33

to learn that may never be regained.
        This is the difference just R35 can make
        for a child’s future.”

        The My Walk Made with Soul
        programme converts high-quality
        polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reclaimed
        from uncontaminated, non-hazardous
        healthcare waste, such as drip bags and
        tubing, collected from participating
        Netcare hospitals in Gauteng and
        KwaZulu-Natal into brand new, fully
        recyclable school shoes for kids.

        “Thanks to the tremendous support of
        our sponsors, these shoes are not only
        helping to make the path to education a
        little easier for beneficiaries at schools all
        over the country, but it has also diverted
        145,128kgs of healthcare waste from
        landfills, repurposing it to extend its
        usefulness and contribute to a circular
        economy,” Bezuidenhout explains.

        For each ton of PVC material recycled   The award-winning My Walk Made with   Get involved for
        and repurposed to make My Walk Made   Soul initiative has been recognised for   the price of a
        with Soul school shoes, some 1.5 tons of   its innovative approach in embracing
        greenhouse gases are prevented from   social and environmental sustainability   cappuccino
        entering the atmosphere.            elements at the SA Breweries (SAB)
                                            Beyond Awards as the top entry for the   For just R35, roughly the price
        “It’s estimated that a million children   “Beyond Sustainability Project” category   of a medium cappuccino, your
        in our country still lack proper school   for 2024. It also won a Nedbank   donation can provide a pair of
        shoes, and our mission is to leverage   Green Economy Award for non-profit   durable, sustainable school shoes
        this sustainable and innovative     organisations in the Nedbank Trialogue   to a child in need. My Walk Made
        upcycling solution to ensure that every   Business in Society 2023 Awards.   with Soul is a registered public
        child in South Africa has a pair of school   Furthermore, the project was selected as   benefit organisation (PBO) and
        shoes. There is still a considerable way   a finalist in the New York Festivals Award   can provide sponsors with an 18A
        to go, yet we are encouraged by the   for health and wellness innovation and   certificate.
        momentum this programme continues   won the Eco-Logic Circular Economy
        to gain,” Bezuidenhout says.        and Waste Award for 2024.              One pair of school shoes for a
                                                                                   learner costs R35.
                                                                                   Five pairs of school shoes for five
                                                                                   learners cost R175.
                                                                                   Ten pairs of school shoes for 10
                                                                                   learners cost R350.

                                                                                   To enquire about bulk corporate
                                                                                   orders, sponsorships, or donations,
                                                                                   contact Delanie Bezuidenhout at
                                                                                   Delanie.bezuidenhout@mywalk.org.za.










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