Dear John ,


I’m writing to you today to share a beautiful story about an important need - one which is inspiring and encouraging, as well as urgent and very important.


The rolling hills around South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg are speckled with citrus farms and timber plantations, which offer much-needed income for the fast-growing city.


But the region’s declining textile industries have left a sad legacy: joblessness, poverty, crime, drug abuse and homelessness.  


For people like Nogwaja, constant hunger and desperate need are his companions when he sleeps on the street. Starvation is only kept at bay by living on relief meals.


And this is where this inspiring story starts…


The city is blessed with vibrant churches, determined to help and welcome everyone in the community.


One day Nogwaja visited a church offering relief meals, and saw an opportunity advertised that he jumped at. The church had brought in artisans to train men to meet one of Africa’s growing needs: shoes.


Blessed are the shoe-makers

The course offered motivated men the chance to support themselves and their families by teaching them in demand skills in shoe-making, shoe repairs and business.

And this is all thanks to donors, who empower fellow Christians to do this incredible work.

We walk the talk, together

The Christian brothers and sisters who thought up this project are inspiring: determined, skilled, effective, compassionate and dedicated to seeing God’s love reach everyone.  


They know what their community needs and how to meet those needs: in fact, demand for the course is now so high that the church hopes to run it twice a term, for 25 people each time.


Imagine how many people’s lives that would change!

This is where you can join their journey. And change someone’s life for the better, forever. By sponsoring a place on the course for someone, and just covering the cost of shoe-making supplies or teachers for a person in terrible need, you can give a motivated person the chance to become self-sufficient.

Expenses are kept low, transparent and regularly reported on, along with the good news stories we love to hear.


John , I hope you will join me in contributing to this powerful way to achieve practical positive change. We can support our South African brothers and sisters to change their communities, one step at a time, in a remarkable combination of Word and deed.

We invite you to support the work of African Enterprise