With just two days before the schools open, DJ and businessman Ashley Kholofelo Raphala, best known as DJ Shimza is again, like he does every year, donating school shoes to learners in various schools around his home township of Thembisa, Gauteng.

WALK IN HIS SHOES

Every year, the Asamoya DJ hosts a Christmas lunch for orphans in Thembisa, a day before his one-man show. Then followed by a shoe donation drive. Through his Shimuzic Foundation, he will be handing out 1000 pairs of school shoes alongside together with the Hollywood Foundation, branded 1000 Hopeful Soles which is a name aimed at spreading home among learners. "It always feels important for me to give back to the community that supports me and my music," he says. This time of the year is hard for a lot of families and those who cannot afford school fees and uniforms. I just want to play my part in changing a young person's life, even if it's one child at a time. I want to see a change. This time, it's 1000 kids."

Shimza donating shoes during the COVID-19 pandemic

SOCIAL IMPACT

The Shimuzic Foundation was founded in 2016 for purposes of philanthropy and social impact. Shimza launched his foundation after seeing a growing number of child-headed homes in Tembisa. Many of the children heading these homes were living with HIV/AIDS and were physically and mentally challenged and he decided to lend a helping hand in his hometown and neighbouring townships. Last year, through his foundation, launched a level 3 Seta accreditation internship called The Hub with a four-month long programme. This was aimed at up-skilling 15 young individuals from his township of Thembisa in the event management, design and entrepreneurship industries. 

Shimza donating shoes on 16 January 2023