From the News desk of DHL

DGF Australia delivers rugby boots to South African children with Boots 4 Africa

DHL Global Forwarding Australia has been supporting Boots 4 Africa, a non-profit organisation that leverages the power of community and sports to help those in need in poverty stricken parts of Africa.  

The charity organisation was initially introduced to DGF in late 2013 via a connection with sports personality Peter Fitzsimmons, and was championed by Phil Lumsden, Vice President IRR Implementation Support.

DGF helped deliver the charity’s first shipment of goods in January 2014 to children in South Africa. They were overjoyed when the shipment arrived and they donned their boots and danced for over six hours at the football stadium in Eden Park. Children from a local orphanage called Amazing Grace also received boots.

DGF has continued to support Boots 4 Africa with a second shipment of second-hand sport gear, which was collected from Sydney on 29 June 2017 and will delivered to Johannesburg in August 2017 after it reaches Africa via ocean freight.

A total of 1,450 donations were collected from all over Australia, with the majority coming from Sydney and Perth, and includes 851 pairs of boots plus 599 other donated items including socks, shin-pads, sneakers, shorts, jerseys, and balls – weighing a total of 415kg.

Commenting on the delivery, Sarah Gardner, founder, said: “At Boots 4 Africa, we believe that giving back is critical to caring for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.  By donating old football boots, Australians can change a young person’s outlook on life.  Through sport we are helping to nurture, empower and transform lives in Africa. 

“I want to pass on a major thanks to DHL, as well as all the people who donated including community sporting clubs and local schools.   The help DHL provided was invaluable in enabling us to deliver these boots to needy communities.

“I hope to be able to continue collecting boots and send another shipment within the next two years.  All donations will be welcomed; especially any unneeded boots from the end of the winter sports season.” 

If you would like to donate any sports gear to this cause, please email Sarah at: b4a.australia@gmail.com or visit www.bootsforafrica.com.au.