Sia was 13 when she noticed the barefoot children of workers at a construction site. "Their feet were bare. Hard. Dirty. Bleeding." reflects Sia. "They were just walking around just as it was an everyday practice." It was then that Sia realized their lives were so different from hers.
Sia went back home and saw shoes piled up high — many of which hadn't been worn for months. Then she rushed to distribute them to the children she saw at the building site. Later that year, with the help of her parents and community volunteers, Sia founded Sole Warriors, a charity committed to providing shoes to those in need, whose motto is: "Donate a sole(鞋), save a soul."
The idea quickly grew. After she spread the word with posters, enquiries from people who wanted to help came flooding in. Now in its fifth year, the organization collects used shoes, refurbishes(翻新) it and donates the finished products to people in need. That need is endless. In the world, an estimated 300 million people can't afford shoes. Of the nearly 24 billion shoes made every year, shockingly more than 90 percent end up in dustbins.
In its first distribution, Sole Warriors collected and gave out 700 pairs of shoes. Today that number rises to 28,000 across four countries. But the organization's growth met with many challenges. When it came to looking for a company that would do the refurbishments free of charge, Sia faced one barrier after another before finding a partner. "Being a 13-year-old, I did face a lot of prejudice because people were less willing to hear what I say." says Sia.
In recognition of her great influence, Sia was given the Diana Award in 2021. It's one of the most remarkable honors a young person can receive for social action. But her work isn't done. "Our goal has always been to touch a million feet," she says.
