{"id":23352,"date":"2025-03-26T14:36:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T12:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-south\/?p=23352"},"modified":"2025-03-26T14:36:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T12:36:49","slug":"sole2sole-meyersdal-teens-changing-lives-one-pair-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-south\/blog\/2025\/03\/26\/sole2sole-meyersdal-teens-changing-lives-one-pair-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Sole2Sole: Meyersdal teens changing lives one pair at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"

They might still be very young but their feet are planted firmly on the ground and they know exactly what they stand for. It is also very clear that they are working toward a better future for all.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chatting to brother and sister, Dario and Liana Gouveia from Meyersdal, is an eye-opener of note. With Dario being in his matric year and Liana now in Grade 10 they have quite a lot of wisdom to share and an inner strength you won\u2019t easily associate with two teenagers.<\/p>\n

Born in Fourways, they moved to Meyersdal at an early age and this is where they call home. They both attend Marist Brothers Linmeyer and as they say: \u2018We simply love our school – it has shaped who we are today.\u2019<\/p>\n

The start of something beautiful<\/strong><\/h4>\n

But let\u2019s rewind a couple of years to get to the bottom of the significant change these youngsters have made in many, many lives; leaving a lasting legacy.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to the beginning of Sole2Sole.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sole2Sole started when we were eight and nine years of age, driving down Michelle Avenue and seeing a little boy on the side of the road begging and he was barefoot. I couldn\u2019t understand why. Why did I have shoes and this poor child didn\u2019t? His feet looked so sore,\u2019 said Dario.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2018I told my mom, who then listened and encouraged me to clear out my cupboard and give him some shoes. Thereafter, I asked my friends to assist me in collecting 1000 pairs of shoes, and within two weeks, that was achieved. I soon realised that many people want to assist, and want to do good.<\/p>\n

\u2018I didn\u2019t stop at 1 000. I just couldn\u2019t, and with the help of social media, family, friends and some incredible schools, Sole2Sole has been able to collect over 1,1 million pairs of shoes for those in need. This is all because of how generous people are,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n

It did not take long for sister Liana to climb on board and they work tirelessly to keep Sole2Sole alive and thriving.<\/p>\n

But there are also challenges. Being a teenager, being at school with loads going on, it can\u2019t be easy to keep going.<\/p>\n

\u2018Grade 11 and matric has been challenging. I have a full plate and need assistance. I often ask friends and volunteers to assist me with binding, pairing and packing shoes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Do you know what it looks like to have over 4 000 pairs of shoes in your garage? It is manic and overwhelming, but I understand that it is for good and that\u2019s why I continue. Many hands make light work and I am blessed with people who offer up their precious time to help.\u2019<\/p>\n

They also explain the importance of networking to keep Sole2Sole going and admit that social media and networking are what have gotten Sole2Sole to where it currently is.<\/p>\n

\u2018Without people who clear out their cupboards, we wouldn\u2019t have shoes to donate. Sole2 Sole isn\u2019t about a boy and his sister who started it – it is about the thousands of people who donated their shoes or their time to the Sole2Sole cause!\u2019<\/p>\n

And when asked whether they ever thought their project would reach the milestone of crossing borders, their answer is: \u2018We really did not. I just wanted to give one little boy a pair of shoes! I am so grateful to the universe and God for allowing me the ability to do good.\u2019<\/p>\n

To date Sole2Sole has donated just over 1.1 million pairs of shoes.<\/p>\n

Future objectives of Sole2Sole<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u2018It is quite simple. To keep going on, to keep changing lives! The main milestone was to reach one million individuals, and now that that has been achieved, it\u2019s just to keep inspiring and motivating others to do good.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The two also love assisting the Ligstad and Doxa Deo church with their annual Street Store initiative.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a truly special event that hands out over 1 000 pairs of shoes to those who live on the street. We just keep doing what we usually do and every now and then we get the opportunity to do some different distributions.\u2019<\/p>\n

Fast forward to today<\/strong><\/h4>\n

And if you thought that these two come home, do their homework and count shoes for a living – well, think again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After a day at school, there come all the extramural activities, and that is quite a handful so to speak.<\/p>\n

Both are super involved students who do more than they should but, as they say: \u2018If the formula isn\u2019t broken, don\u2019t fix it! We both love every aspect of our school and sports lives that we quite frankly don\u2019t want to change anything,\u2019 they said.<\/p>\n

Throughout his schooling career, Dario has always been involved with karate and attained his black belt in Grade 10. He is an avid provincial squash player who represents Central Gauteng annually.<\/p>\n

\u2018Along with those two main sports I play flank for our Marist Tigers rugby team, form part of the school\u2019s public speaking team, I swim, do archery, co-workers, athletics, and on the cultural side of things I play the drums,\u2019 he said with a smile.<\/p>\n

Liana achieved her junior black belt last year in Grade Nine and is also a provincial squash player. You will also see her out on the netball courts. She swims, does cross-country, athletics, co-workers, archery, public speaking, and forms part of the Marimba band and music groups at school.<\/p>\n

Liana is also an avid piano player, who uses her talent to give back to their church, St Theresa\u2019s, on Saturday evenings.<\/p>\n

Home is where the heart is<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Looking at their schedules one can only wonder how they cope and where do they hang out when they get the time to relax – more so, how do they relax?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2018We love being home! We spend loads of time at school and out at sporting events, that the best place we love to be, is at home, which is scarce!\u2019<\/p>\n

But just how do they balance school, extramural activities, Sole2Sole and social life?<\/p>\n

They smile and agree: \u2018This is a struggle, but they always say, if you want something done, ask a busy person. We just get it done! We do loads of juggling of time schedules and prepping, but we make time for things that are important to us.\u2019<\/p>\n

And when the family takes a break down to Jeffries Bay, that is where Dario goes out to collect driftwood. \u2018I love carving, when going away to Jeffries over the holidays (my favourite place so by the way!). I always collect driftwood and use it to carve random pieces of art. That relaxes me.\u2019<\/p>\n

Liana, believe it or not, opened her own little sideline beading business on top of everything else. \u2018But,\u2019 she says, \u2018I\u2019m quite arty and love doing arts and crafts. I often spend my time creating beautiful bracelets or key rings for my little business. I also just enjoy Jeffries Bay, spending time with my cousins and family and watching girly movies.\u2019<\/p>\n

Asked about their fondest childhood memories Dario says: \u2018My favourite memory is how myself and Liana used to take our mattresses up to our parent\u2019s room and camp out in their bedroom, watching movies, and eating snacks.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018My favourite memory is the day our dad surprised us with a Mother\u2019s Day gift for mom – our Boston terrier puppy, Domino,\u2019 said Liana.<\/p>\n

Into the future<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Being two driven individuals, one can\u2019t help but ask what drives them and what they think the future holds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2018Our family drives us. Without the support of our parents and our friends, we wouldn\u2019t be able to achieve what we have. Seeing truly how much a pair of shoes can impact someone\u2019s life is enough drive to keep on doing what we do.\u2019<\/p>\n

And for the youth out there, what do the two of them think the role of the youth can be in creating a better tomorrow?<\/p>\n

\u2018Age is just a number. All you need is for a parent or adult to listen to what ideas your children might have. Children see through very different eyes, and we were lucky enough to have our parents who listened and gave us the wheels we needed to make Sole2Sole possible,\u2019 Dario said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Our youth have so much potential to make a change for our future. The future is ours,\u2019 added Liana.<\/p>\n

And their message to mobilise the youth into action to build a better future is clear: \u2018Don\u2019t doubt yourself. If you can see the vision – act on it now. Take action. You won\u2019t be sorry.\u2019<\/p>\n