The charity is hosting its first in-person fundraiser this weekend
By Nadoya Reid
A charity created by a Walthamstow 22-year-old has donated more than 800 pairs of shoes and clothing to impoverished people in Africa in just three years.
Johnfa Koke founded CREPS2AFRICA while in his first year at university after being inspired by an act of charity from his mother, who sent shoes to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He told the Echo he had an “epiphany” about how “so many people have old shoes when there are people who have never owned a pair of shoes”.
After relying on fundraising websites for the last three years, the charity will host its first ever in-person charity event – a football tournament – this weekend.
Johnfa said: “So many people are sneakerheads nowadays, they’re going through footwear rapidly. It’s better they give their unwanted shoes to people who actually need them, rather than just throw them away.”
While he admits balancing running a charity with his studies – and now with his job – is “a bit difficult”, his passion has helped him not only keep going but even expand since 2019.
CREPS2AFRICA’s most recent project was their largest project to date and sent shoes to four countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Johnfa said: “I would love to be able to send shoes all over Africa, so being able to send to four locations was a big step in what I am trying to achieve.
“Charity is something that I want to do and have a passion for so I don’t mind spending the whole day contacting people and spreading the word.
“One of the main struggles is searching [for organisations in Africa] and waiting for people to get back to me, it does take a while.
“But, once I establish those connections and spend hours on Google making sure they’re legitimate, we keep in contact and I keep them up to date with projects that I do.”
The End of Summer Cup football tournament will take place on Sunday, 4th September, from 12-6 pm at Trulock Road, N17 0PG – opposite the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Entry will be £3 for spectators or £50 for every team hoping to take part, with a cash prize and trophy given to the winning team.
Johnfa said his goal in organising the tournament was to let people “see the person behind the project”, while also having a “great end of summer day out”.
As well as raising money, the charity will also be collecting shoes and clothes for donation.
Find out more on their Instagram or Twitter @creps2africa
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
