Sun Jan 26 07:20:40 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Teens’ NGO, Hasiru Sole, Donates Thousands of Refurbished Shoes to the Needy
**BENGALURU, INDIA** – Two 16-year-old Bengaluru residents, Vedika Balachandran and Ameya Uchil, have launched a remarkable initiative, Hasiru Sole, an NGO that collects, repairs, and distributes used shoes to underprivileged communities. Since its inception in February 2023, the organization, now a team of 15 teenage volunteers, has donated over 6,000 pairs of footwear, along with hundreds of mats and bags, to those in need in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Inspired by witnessing barefoot construction workers and poorly shod sanitation workers, the teens began collecting discarded shoes from generous donors. Rather than simply distributing the used footwear, Hasiru Sole employs local cobblers to repair and refurbish the shoes, providing both essential footwear and income opportunities for the cobblers. Funding for repairs is secured through neighborhood philanthropists and donations.
The NGO operates primarily through word-of-mouth and an Instagram account (@hasirusoleclub), eschewing a formal website or other social media presence. They offer free doorstep pickup for donated shoes and distribute the refurbished footwear free of charge to recipients in slums and orphanages. While recycling is an option, Hasiru Sole’s model offers a more sustainable and community-focused approach to addressing the need for accessible footwear. Interested donors can contact Hasiru Sole via email at hasirusole@gmail.com.
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