Across many South African townships, unemployment continues to limit opportunities, especially for men who often miss out on training programs. Many feel discouraged and unable to provide for their families.
African Enterprise South Africa’s Nyawonhle (“Beautiful Feet”) Shoe Repair Project is bringing real, practical change. The program equips men in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding communities with hands‑on shoe‑repair skills, including sole and heel repair, rebuilding worn shoes, stitching and restoration.
Participants also gain basic business training, empowering them to pursue employment or start small home‑based businesses. Training is delivered by skilled facilitators Allan Paul and Thobeka “Thotho” Manqele, who together bring over 20 years of experience.
The course runs throughout the year through monthly 10‑day training cycles, offered within local communities. Up to 60 men will be trained in 2026, learning skills that help them support their families and regain direction. Graduates leave equipped with a marketable skill and the opportunity to build a sustainable livelihood.
Your support can:
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Provide unemployed men with practical, income-earning skills,
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Supply materials, tools and equipment,
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Give graduates starter packs to launch micro‑businesses,
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Restore confidence and stability for families,
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Expand the program to more communities.
By supporting Nyawonhle, you’re helping to break cycles of unemployment and strengthening families.
His Story:
In the district of Maqo Ngqo, Tho Tho—a 2024 graduate of the Shoe Repair Project—has transformed his training into a thriving roadside shoe‑repair business and a powerful force for community uplift. Confident in his skills, he now serves as the trainer for the 2025 program while also mentoring fellow graduates who still need support.
Working from a simple tent along the road to the local school, he not only repairs shoes for paying customers but often approaches community members, including schoolchildren, whose shoes need care; and when they cannot afford the repair, he quietly does the work for free. Through his dedication, generosity, and leadership, Tho Tho shows just how far a single opportunity can reach.