Barefoot for our community

NORTHCLIFF – Abbotts College learners and staff rejoice when people in the community who are less fortunate received a pair of shoes for nothing that will help them in the rainy season.

October 1, 2019

Bonakele Sithole 2 minutes read

Abbotts College Northcliff staff go barefoot to show their learners the importance of their annual Barefoot Initiative and raise awareness for those less fortunate. Photo: Bonakele Sithole

As part of their annual Barefoot Initiative learners from Abbotts College Northcliff were urged to donate a pair of shoes and walk barefoot during school hours to raise awareness to those less fortunate and show their compassion on 6 September.

Learners gave away some of their best pairs of shoes on the pavement of the school to be taken by those less fortunate in the community. Melissa Massey, the organiser of this project said, “We are a caring group and have learners from well-off families but they care. They have wonderful pairs of shoes and we want them to know that a little goes a long way, that the pair of shoes they give away will really help someone and that is what charity is all about.”

Learners give away their loved pairs of shoes for the school’s annual Barefoot Initiative and spend the day walking barefoot. *Photo: Bonakele Sithole*

The learners left pairs of shoes on the pavement so that anybody who needed could pick them up. “Whenever we have an appeal, our learners come to the fore – they deliver. It is in the giving nature of them to be able to help those less fortunate. People don’t realise that going barefoot improves one’s balance, posture and you’re able to identify different textures,” Massey explained.

Learners and staff members spent a day without shoes to reap the benefits of walking barefoot, and also to feel what it’s like for those who go barefoot without a choice.

Massey said a crowd of people gathered on the school’s pavement which gave their learners the opportunity to not just leave their shoes behind but to leave a mark in the community, show that they care and to know that a little goes a long way.

Community members and those in need of a new pair of shoes received shoes placed at the pavement of Abbotts College Northcliff for their annual barefoot initiative. *Photo: Supplied*

“It really helps the students look at other people and know that there is a need in a particular matter. Abbotts College tries to educate learners on the greater need of the less fortunate community by having project throughout the year helping others. This year we had the Nelson Mandela Day were we collected and donated soup packets to a charity. We have a charity home we collect food for every know and then and recently collected money for a little girl who has cancer but her parents are not able to afford treatment.”