sibusiso zulu
COLLECTING SNEAKERS FOR KIDS IN NEED
Sibusiso Zulu at Victoria Yards, Johannesburg - 2023
In his own words, Sibusiso Zulu is “an ambassador for creativity and social change” and it all began with Sneakers 4 Change…
In 2013 Sibu had one pair of sneakers. They had a hole in the side, so he used to stand with one foot behind the other to hide it from the other artists, musicians and skaters who he hung out with on the streets of Maboneng. As a plan to get new shoes for himself and his friends, Sibu approached a local club owner and proposed the idea of hosting an event where people could pay for entry by donating a pair of old sneakers.
They received 38 pairs and, after taking a few for himself and his friends, he decided to clean them up and donate them to Twilight Children’s Home.
“I felt like I had done something really amazing and the kids were really grateful.”
After seeing the effect this had on the kids, his focus quickly shifted from hosting events, to collecting and redistributing used sneakers. He started emailing schools and asking them to encourage the parents to bring in any old sneakers that their kids had outgrown. From the first school, he received 1,000 pairs.
“I had taken public transport to go and collect the shoes but when I got there and saw how many there were I had to go home, hire a bakkie and come back the next day.”
Since 2013, Sibu estimates that he has redistributed around 12,000 pairs of sneakers to various beneficiaries.
Over the last few years, Sibu has started various new ventures through his partnership with Makers Valley in Victoria Yards, Johannesburg. These include poetry sessions, youth expos, and his newest venture Swyft Lab - a clothing swap shop and customisation company that focuses on sustainability, environmental impact, and the circular economy.
It’s a win-win situation, providing people with a fresh wardrobe whilst also using local art, design, and craft to prolong the life of clothing.
