Due to an overwhelming response, Converse has doubled the pledge from R1 million and declared a R2 million pledge to the #kickthedebt campaign. Converse acknowledges the need in assistance for students across South Africa and has decided to extend and increase the campaign and its pledge to give more students a chance to kick their debt. The campaign has been extended for another 2 weeks and will end on the 14th March 2021.
Converse group marketing executive, Bradley Knowles, said:
“It just made sense for us as a brand which has always been with the youth of South Africa to in a small way, come behind this, and do our bit. It is a small bit but it is a start of trying to alleviate student debt with this campaign called #KickTheDebt.”
The focus of the #kickthedebt campaign is to try and alleviate even a small portion of the result of generational economic depression. Converse recognizes and understands the need to back the South African youth and the campaign aims to make a difference as education is prohibitively expensive, and as a result, student debt is incredibly high. The issue of student debt is a prominent issue South African youths face, with an increasing need for the issue to be erased
Converse has made the level of access to entry for students easy by using digital platforms. To combat those barriers, applicants can enter and access the #KicktheDebt nomination form on the Converse website; converse.co.za, where friends and family will also be able to motivate for funds. At the end of the nomination phase, both Converse, the influencers and a panel of independent judges will review the nominations and select the final beneficiaries.
