Sara Kebede

My name is Sara Kebede, founder of Shoes for Sheba. I am an Ethiopian-American runner at Tulane University. In fourth grade I took a life changing trip to Ethiopia and witnessed firsthand the poverty in which the children live. From that moment on I knew that my mission would be to find a way to help those kids better their situation.

As a runner, I know how quick I am to retire an old pair of shoes and move onto the next- even when they still have a lot of life in them. It occurred to me that these shoes could be given to someone who would still find use in them and this led me to think of the girls in Ethiopia.

I am excited to say that Shoes for Sheba has been supporting young athletes in Ethiopia since 2011. Please consider donating your gently used running shoes. Look for Shoes for Sheba collection boxes at local retailers or email us directly at shoesforsheba@yahoo.com. Remember, every pair of shoes can make a difference.

Olivia Berhan

My name is Olivia Berhan and I am an Ethiopian-American runner at Aptos High School in Northern California. Through my experience as a runner, I have discovered how important it is to have the proper necessities to run. Not only can lack of equipment be unpleasant, but it can also lead to several injuries throughout a runner’s career. By providing the athletes in Ethiopia with the correct attire, I believe that they will become more avoidant to injury and gain newfound confidence as athletes and as individuals.

Through running, I have become much more focused, and have learned to test my limits, and work hard to achieve my goals. I believe that running helps develop individuals in a positive way by teaching them to become self-reliant and finding power within themselves to succeed.