One of the needs we’ve become aware of for the children here is shoes. Generally the children have one pair of school shoes and one pair of slippers / thongs. The school shoes undergo a lot of rough and tumble playing at school and walking to and from the bus. They also get worn by the children outside of school, because usually they are the only pair of closed shoes. The slippers are worn everyday around the home and during recreation, so they get a good workout too. Shoes need to be replaced regularly because the children’s feet are growing, and they get worn out very quickly.
Most of the boys’ school shoes were in a very bad state. Some of the kids didn’t have slippers because they had been lost or broken, so they were going in bare feet after school.
So recently, we had the great privilege of taking the kids shoe-shopping! After school one afternoon, we took them to a big ‘Bata’ store. Each child got to choose a new pair of slippers and the boys all received new school shoes (the girls had recently received new school shoes, so theirs were ok).
There was a lot of excitement at being able to choose their own shoes! There was also a very happy and proud morning the next day, when all the boys wore their new shoes to school.
Again, it’s these every day things that we take for granted that make up the needs here. And for us, the challenge is to recognise that these needs are ongoing and widespread – we’ve given shoes now, and that’s great – but next year and the year after that, as kids grow, they need new shoes, new uniforms, new clothes – plus there’s all the kids who are still going without. So we continue to think about how we can partner with this organisation, and others like it, as a regular and normal part of our lives and the way we spend our money.
Most of the boys’ school shoes were in a very bad state. Some of the kids didn’t have slippers because they had been lost or broken, so they were going in bare feet after school.
So recently, we had the great privilege of taking the kids shoe-shopping! After school one afternoon, we took them to a big ‘Bata’ store. Each child got to choose a new pair of slippers and the boys all received new school shoes (the girls had recently received new school shoes, so theirs were ok).
There was a lot of excitement at being able to choose their own shoes! There was also a very happy and proud morning the next day, when all the boys wore their new shoes to school.
Again, it’s these every day things that we take for granted that make up the needs here. And for us, the challenge is to recognise that these needs are ongoing and widespread – we’ve given shoes now, and that’s great – but next year and the year after that, as kids grow, they need new shoes, new uniforms, new clothes – plus there’s all the kids who are still going without. So we continue to think about how we can partner with this organisation, and others like it, as a regular and normal part of our lives and the way we spend our money.
Waiting to go inside the shop
Very well-behaved and patiently waiting!
The girls selecting their shoes
Shopping completed!
Pile of shoes :)
1 comment:
How wonderful that you were able to help in that way!! I know what a huge expense it is - Ethan goes through at least one pair of shoes a term from wear-and-tear!!! I hope you can find a great way to provide on-going support. :)
Post a Comment