When 16-year-old Tahlia Moyore Ayandare stepped onto the clay courts of the ITF Junior Circuit in Kenya last July, she didn’t expect her tennis trip to spark a movement.
The British-Nigerian teen from Essex, UK, noticed something that tugged at her heart — many young African players didn’t have proper shoes.
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Some played in worn-out pairs, others barefoot, and even second-hand sneakers sold at the venue were too expensive for most.
“It was a wake-up call,” Tahlia told Sports247 in Lagos during the ICT Junior Lagos Leg. “I saw how difficult it was for some kids to even get shoes to play. When I got back to England, I knew I had to do something.”
That “something” became Pair It Forward — a grassroots charity initiative that collects and donates tennis shoes to underprivileged young players in Africa.
Tahlia launched a GoFundMe campaign, rallied her friends, and encouraged people to donate both new and gently used shoes.
With the funds raised, she bought fresh pairs and shipped them, alongside donated ones, to Kenya and Nigeria.
The result? Dozens of young players now compete with proper footwear — and brighter smiles.
“Seeing their faces light up when they got the shoes made everything worth it,” Tahlia said. “It made me want to do more and to encourage others to do more too.”
Her mother, Toyin Ayandare, couldn’t be prouder. “When Tahlia came home and said, ‘Mum, let’s do something,’ I knew this was special. We’ve traveled to Kenya and now Nigeria, just ensuring the project succeeds. It’s cost us time and money, but the joy it brings is priceless.”
Though tennis doesn’t have the same visibility in Nigeria as football, Tahlia believes passion and persistence can break barriers. “It’s hard, but if it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it,” she said, smiling. “My advice? Never give up.”
With Serena Williams as her idol and a renewed love for tennis after briefly stepping away from the sport, Tahlia is not just chasing points on the court — she’s serving up change off it.
Her vision for Pair It Forward is simple but powerful: if everyone gives a little, we can make a big difference.
And for this 16-year-old with a big dream and even bigger heart, this is just the beginning.
