OUR STORY
We support the dreams of those who aspire to become champions. It was in 2017, at the end of the Rome Marathon, when Francisco Grimaldi, with the assistance of Giordano Bravetti, decided to collect the running shoes of his teammates to take them to Kenya, the land of marathon runners. He took the shoes, wrote the donor's name on them, and set off for Africa. Once in Kenya, he quickly realized that a pair of shoes there represented much more than a training tool; those shoes could change the lives of thousands of people, families, villages, and entire communities. Since then, Francisco and his team have been traveling to Kenya annually to support those who dedicate their lives to athletics in pursuit of a better future. This gave birth to the "At the Edge of the World" project, aimed at supporting sports communities in developing countries worldwide, particularly those countries that, like Kenya, excel in a particular sport. In 2023, the focus shifted to Nepal and the Sherpas, and preparations are already underway for the next expeditions to support Cuban boxers, Jamaican sprinters, and Fijian rugby players. We started with 44 pairs of running shoes; today, we are an international entity that assists and encourages those who have chosen to step up to become champions.
OUR STORY
We support the dreams of those who aspire to become champions. It was in 2017, at the end of the Rome Marathon, when Francisco Grimaldi, with the assistance of Giordano Bravetti, decided to collect the running shoes of his teammates to take them to Kenya, the land of marathon runners. He took the shoes, wrote the donor's name on them, and set off for Africa. Once in Kenya, he quickly realized that a pair of shoes there represented much more than a training tool; those shoes could change the lives of thousands of people, families, villages, and entire communities. Since then, Francisco and his team have been traveling to Kenya annually to support those who dedicate their lives to athletics in pursuit of a better future. This gave birth to the "At the Edge of the World" project, aimed at supporting sports communities in developing countries worldwide, particularly those countries that, like Kenya, excel in a particular sport. In 2023, the focus shifted to Nepal and the Sherpas, and preparations are already underway for the next expeditions to support Cuban boxers, Jamaican sprinters, and Fijian rugby players. We started with 44 pairs of running shoes; today, we are an international entity that assists and encourages those who have chosen to step up to become champions.
Stories
Francesca
IYS Nepal Expedition 2023
“In 2023, I had my first experience with IYS, the most intense and rewarding of my life. We went to Nepal with the purpose of delivering shoes to Sherpa porters before the start of the Everest expeditions. This donation allowed me to connect with them and feel their endless gratitude upon receiving the shoes. IYS immerses you in the smiles and the life of people on the other side of the world, a life previously unknown to us. It's a small organization that, at the same time, accomplishes something truly significant.”
Carolina
IYS Expedition 2021
“Since 2016 I had been yearning to participate in an expedition of IYS's caliber, but I hadn't yet found the right team. When I came across this project in 2021, it fueled me with so much enthusiasm that I volunteered as a photographer. From that moment on, it was a whirlwind of emotions that led me to follow the 2021 expedition, an experience I cherish as one of the most beautiful I've ever had. Not only do we do good for others, but it's a shared good that helps you grow and see things from a different perspective than when you started.”
Simone
IYS Expedition 2021
“For me, IYS is more than just a project; it's more than just a non-profit organization. IYS is an experience to recount when you're older. Thanks to them, I discovered the significance of a gesture as small as it is important. But not only that, I got to explore Africa for the first time, and it left a lasting impression on me!”
Giulia
IYS Expedition 2018
“When I first heard Francisco talking about the expedition in Africa, I suddenly thought it was a beautiful thing I wanted to be a part of. It was before a run, and I kept thinking about it the whole workout. Little did I know that my perspective on life would change so much after going to Kenya to bring the same shoes I used to run that day, with other hundreds, to the athletes of Iten. It made me touch by hand how people truly connect, they become something that is greater than the sum of individuals.”
Federica
IYS Expedition 2017
“On November 2017 I went to Kenya because I thought it would have been an amazing experience, but I was wrong, it has been a trip beyond imagination. I discovered not only the beauty of African landscapes but also the real joy in the eyes of the guys when I gave them my running shoes. For them, they were not just shoes, they were the key to achieve all their goals and dreams. All the stories and emotions I felt, are something I will never forget. I will always be saying that going to Kenya and be part of the InYourShoes project was the best gift I could ever give to myself”
Andrea
IYS Nepal Expedition 2023
“In Nepal, I had the opportunity to discover the values that IYS conveys with such a wholehearted spirit. With this fantastic team, I was able to fully experience the people and places that, with deafening silence, made me feel free. I believe that this organization, in addition to the desire to explore, aims to provide concrete assistance because a gesture or even just a pair of shoes can make a difference for some people. I thank IYS for the beautiful experience; I returned home exhausted but with a baggage full of wonderful memories.”
Giulia
IYS Expedition 2021
“From the very first time I heard about InYourShoes, I thought about how much I would love to go to Kenya with them. When the concrete proposal came from Francisco and Giordano, I knew I was about to embark on one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to see firsthand the significance of this project for the local community was priceless. Through InYourShoes, I could immerse myself in this reality, touch it, and breathe it without any filters, living a unique and irreplaceable experience.”
Yeonjae
IYS Expedition 2019
“I took off to Kenya with five almost-strangers, having only one common thing. We had the same goal to bridge the dreams between continents, through used running shoes. Within two weeks, strangers became friends; The kind of friends who drive me crazy, then make me so inspired. In Iten, we witnessed so many amazing things spending time with the young athletes, such as their busy hands making Chapati for us, and their busy legs at 6am fartlek training. We were guests to them one day, and soon we were all friends. To this day, I feel incredibly lucky getting to meet the inyourshoes crew and all the beautiful souls and their dreams in Iten. To me inyourshoes was a blast, and it was a blessing.”
Nat
IYS Expedition 2018
“My experience with InYourShoes has been, quite simply, one of the best experiences of my life. In Kenya I left a piece of my heart and I can’t wait to have a chance to go back. Meeting the people and seeing that land will change your perspective on life.”
Stories
Francesca
IYS Nepal Expedition 2023
“In 2023, I had my first experience with IYS, the most intense and rewarding of my life. We went to Nepal with the purpose of delivering shoes to Sherpa porters before the start of the Everest expeditions. This donation allowed me to connect with them and feel their endless gratitude upon receiving the shoes. IYS immerses you in the smiles and the life of people on the other side of the world, a life previously unknown to us. It's a small organization that, at the same time, accomplishes something truly significant.”
Andrea
IYS Nepal Expedition 2023
“In Nepal, I had the opportunity to discover the values that IYS conveys with such a wholehearted spirit. With this fantastic team, I was able to fully experience the people and places that, with deafening silence, made me feel free. I believe that this organization, in addition to the desire to explore, aims to provide concrete assistance because a gesture or even just a pair of shoes can make a difference for some people. I thank IYS for the beautiful experience; I returned home exhausted but with a baggage full of wonderful memories.”
Carolina
IYS Expedition 2021
“Since 2016 I had been yearning to participate in an expedition of IYS's caliber, but I hadn't yet found the right team. When I came across this project in 2021, it fueled me with so much enthusiasm that I volunteered as a photographer. From that moment on, it was a whirlwind of emotions that led me to follow the 2021 expedition, an experience I cherish as one of the most beautiful I've ever had. Not only do we do good for others, but it's a shared good that helps you grow and see things from a different perspective than when you started.”
Giulia
IYS Expedition 2021
“From the very first time I heard about InYourShoes, I thought about how much I would love to go to Kenya with them. When the concrete proposal came from Francisco and Giordano, I knew I was about to embark on one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to see firsthand the significance of this project for the local community was priceless. Through InYourShoes, I could immerse myself in this reality, touch it, and breathe it without any filters, living a unique and irreplaceable experience.”
Simone
IYS Expedition 2021
“For me, IYS is more than just a project; it's more than just a non-profit organization. IYS is an experience to recount when you're older. Thanks to them, I discovered the significance of a gesture as small as it is important. But not only that, I got to explore Africa for the first time, and it left a lasting impression on me!”
Yeonjae
IYS Expedition 2019
“I took off to Kenya with five almost-strangers, having only one common thing. We had the same goal to bridge the dreams between continents, through used running shoes. Within two weeks, strangers became friends; The kind of friends who drive me crazy, then make me so inspired. In Iten, we witnessed so many amazing things spending time with the young athletes, such as their busy hands making Chapati for us, and their busy legs at 6am fartlek training. We were guests to them one day, and soon we were all friends. To this day, I feel incredibly lucky getting to meet the inyourshoes crew and all the beautiful souls and their dreams in Iten. To me inyourshoes was a blast, and it was a blessing.”
Giulia
IYS Expedition 2018
“When I first heard Francisco talking about the expedition in Africa, I suddenly thought it was a beautiful thing I wanted to be a part of. It was before a run, and I kept thinking about it the whole workout. Little did I know that my perspective on life would change so much after going to Kenya to bring the same shoes I used to run that day, with other hundreds, to the athletes of Iten. It made me touch by hand how people truly connect, they become something that is greater than the sum of individuals.”
Nat
IYS Expedition 2018
“My experience with InYourShoes has been, quite simply, one of the best experiences of my life. In Kenya I left a piece of my heart and I can’t wait to have a chance to go back. Meeting the people and seeing that land will change your perspective on life.”
Federica
IYS Expedition 2017
“On November 2017 I went to Kenya because I thought it would have been an amazing experience, but I was wrong, it has been a trip beyond imagination. I discovered not only the beauty of African landscapes but also the real joy in the eyes of the guys when I gave them my running shoes. For them, they were not just shoes, they were the key to achieve all their goals and dreams. All the stories and emotions I felt, are something I will never forget. I will always be saying that going to Kenya and be part of the InYourShoes project was the best gift I could ever give to myself”
