Kicks 4 Kids

I had to use various marketing and advertising methods to make sure my neighbors, colleagues and friends were informed about my project. I designed and ordered postcards, flyers, wrote letters, just to make sure everyone knew about my project, the reason for my project and all the drop off dates. Secondly, I learned how to plan time to do my project. At first it was difficult to take the time and plan this project, due to my full schedule, rehabbing my knee, working and various summer fun teen events etc. However, by thoroughly planning out my vision for the project, I was able to map out and make each deadline, and successfully finish. Lastly, I learned how to be an effective time manager. I had so many shoes to clean off, sanitize, and label; so I had to blocked up to 2 hrs out of day to do each task. And if I didn’t take the time to do it, the shoes would just pile up in room. (Trust me some of them also brought an awfully inoffensive odor which was my 1st criteria of elimination. And my mom was not pleased ). Overall I was able to collect over 80 pairs of shoes. I made sure that each shoe collected was in good condition (without smell), cleaned, sized, wrapped in clear cellophane and labeled from the journey from Skippack, PA to the children and youth in Kampala, Uganda. I also used plastic wrap (water proof covering on the shoes) to hold the shoes together, and regular print labels to write the conversion sizes. So that meant I had to purchase a lot of cleaning products like Clorox bleach sticks, disinfected wipes/spray, toothbrushes, labels, and sturdy clear food wrap. Another important resource I used was my mom. She helped me with designing the marketing materials and following up with people for drop off dates. Without her, my project would not have been a success. The 80 pairs of shoes I sent over consisted of brand names like Converse, Nike, and Adidas, just to name a few. I even sent over two pairs of my own basketball sneakers; I hope that whoever received them will love them as much as I have, and will use them to further their basketball abilities. My major strength within this project was my passion for ensuring I collected shoes that were “gently used” and that could be a gift to each child in Uganda. I wanted to make sure what I gave was a direct reflection of my character and personality. I gave what I would have wanted to receive. Hence, if a shoe smelled bad, was a slightest bit tarnished, or “too dirty to clean” I discarded them. Another strength was the use of various marketing tools I used to inform people about my project. I walked around neighborhoods passing out postcards, posted flyers at my church and sent letters to let everyone know about my amazing project. And I even used Facebook to connect with younger individuals, to get them to donate their shoes. The part of my project that was most difficult was cleaning off the shoes, and making sure that each shoe was correctly labeled and packed in each suitcase. The suitcase could not weigh more than 50lbs and I had to ensure that since I was not able to travel with the “KICKS”, I could get a few of those going to carry a suitcase for me on behalf of my project. Three individuals agreed. If I could have changed my project I would have written Nike, Adidas, or other shoe stores, and ask them to donate “Brand New Shoes” to my project. Hopefully next year I can contact up to ten stores, to help donate shoes. Due to school, I was unable to drop off the shoes myself. But next year I plan to run KICKS 4 KICKS again with a goal of 100+ shoes, and personally drop them off during the next trip to Kampala Uganda on July 1-15, 2010. My next task is to solicit sponsors to make this happen, for every little bit helps. I realize it’s a large goal, but I believe that with the continuous support from my parents & family, church family, and friends. I know as in the words of Obama and Nike… YES, I CAN; JUST DO IT !!! Now that I have returned to competitively playing basketball, and I look back over my journey, these experiences have helped me grow as a person. It opened my eyes to the fact that many children live in poverty around the world . It has also helped me to appreciate all that I’ve been blessed with in life, in spite of the setbacks. And made me realize that even the littlest token of love can put smile on a little child’s face in far off Uganda and humble a blessed teenage girl’s heart here in America.