On April 4, more than 250 students walked barefoot on Hearn Plaza and lined the Quad with paper feet to show support for children who face challenges while trying to gain access to education — such as walking to school without shoes.
The One Day Without Shoes event, held for the first time this year, benefited Basics International, an organization in Chorkor, Ghana, which serves as an educational and life-skills center for underprivileged children. Over $100 in donations was collected.
“It was uncomfortable and our feet got dirty, but we helped raise awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can bring to a child’s life,” said junior Ashley Millhouse, who organized the event. Millhouse spent last semester studying in Ghana and working as an intern with Basics International.
“We can change the lives of children with a simple gesture by doing for one day what millions do everyday,” said Millhouse. “We wanted to lead by example by experiencing, even for a short time, the trials many sub-Saharan African children face walking multiple miles to go to school without shoes.”
Jewelry, handmade in Ghana, will be sold on campus in front of the Fresh Food Company and in the Benson Center to continue raising funds for Basics International.
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