Ms Wong hopes she can inspire people to go out and help others

Nine years into her retirement, Kathy Wong had an epiphany.

The former brand designer felt a sudden pull to make a difference, and help children in need.

Learning that 300 million children are without shoes on their feet, the 53-year-old found her cause, and sprung into action - founding Moeloco, a social enterprise that sells inspirational thongs (or flip-flops) and for every pair sold, donates canvas shoes to a child in need.

‘I had this epiphany one morning where felt like I had to go out and make a difference and it was a message that was coming through very strongly,’ Ms Wong told Daily Mail Australia.

Positive footprint: Moeloco sells positive flip flops and for every pair sold, donates shoes to children in poverty

Chief energy officer: Kathy Wong, 53, launched Moeloco to inspire people and help to eliminate poverty

‘I had been very disconcerted about what was happening out there with humanity and everyone seemed so disconnected and busy so I thought I’d learn about social media because people were spending so much time on there.’

Ms Wong started by sharing positive messages and affirmations to inspire people on social media, and after an overwhelming response from people, decided to take it further.

‘I’ve always had a passion for kids and I always knew I could help kids at a later date and I started learning about children in poverty,’ Ms Wong said.

‘I was deeply touched and when I learned that there were 300 million children without shoes out there and that totally floored me.'

'They were dying and unable to go to school because they didn't have shoes so I felt like I needed to do something and share what was going on.’

Good for the sole: Each pair of flip flops has a positive message in the sole that is left behind in the sand

In November 2014, Ms Wong launched Moeloco and collaborated with the Hope Foundation in Kolkata to share the stories of children living in poverty and raise awareness and money to help them.

Moeloco translates to ‘dream crazy’, with Ms Wong hoping to inspire people to go after their craziest dreams.

‘My crazy dream is to inspire people but my particular dream is eliminating poverty,’ Ms Wong said.

Ms Wong decided to take the positive messages she had been sharing on social media and put them on products that she could sell and raise money to help the children and get them the shoes they needed.

‘I looked at a whole heap of product ideas but one day I was down at the beach and saw everyone wearing flip-flops and I thought “my God, I want to tell the story about children with no shoes…what better way than to do that than with a shoe”,’ Ms Wong said.

‘Flip-flops in Australia mean happy times and holidays and most Australians own four or five pairs... so what a contrast to these kids who don’t have a single pair of shoes.’

Making a difference: The canvas shoes donated allow the children to go to school and get an education

Hope Foundation: Ms Wong collaborates with the Hope Foundation in Kolkata to assist children in need

Ms Wong placed her inspirational messages on the sole of the flip-flops, people who walk down the beach can leave a positive footprint behind.

There are four messages: ‘Dream crazy’, ‘I’m happy’, ‘live love’ and ‘I am peace’.

Moeloco has now donated 1,309 pairs of canvas shoes, giving children the opportunity to go to school and get educated, with Ms Wong hoping this education will get them out of poverty.

‘There was one child who was just six years old who went into one of the protection homes and was given a pair of shoes and he sleeps with them under his pillow every night…he’s never owned a pair of shoes,’ Ms Wong said.

'I am now a vehicle for helping to inspire others': Ms Wong wants to help people make a difference in the world

‘To me that’s a big achievement.’

Moeloco currently has eight retailers on board and is growing, with the organisation hosting events and meetings to bring the community together and inspire people.

‘One of the things I’ve realised is that I am now a vehicle for helping to inspire others to just go out and do something to make a difference and just think about what they can do to make the world a kinder place,’ Ms Wong said.