Help Build a Future for IDP Women & Children

Although this project was originally intended to help ladies in Sierra Leone who were Ebola survivors, we simply cannot ignore the needs of barefoot children throughout Africa. As word about the “Heeling Our World” project spreads, we have received requests to train women from many nations throughout Africa. Although at this time we don’t have the resources to work with all of them, we have responded to these requests from Uganda and Mali.

Uganda

We are continuing to provide shoes for children in the HORD orphanage in Kampala. These shoes were made by students and youth groups in the U.S. as an acknowledgement of their responsibilities as global citizens.

Our team leader in Uganda “Rock” Rwakishaya brought his team to the village of Errussi, Nebbi District in Northern Uganda. The team included The Honorable Joshua Anywarach who is a member of the Uganda Parliament. They brought lots of supplies from Kampala including a dozen treadle sewing machines, since there is no power in Erussi. Over a 2 day period they trained 9 members of the St. Augustine Community Love Programme to make shoes. These people will now become trainers for the thousand plus women in the program. The plan is for them to be able to make shoes for all the children in the village.

Mali

We are in the planning phase of bringing the project to Mali. What is especially exciting is that our team leader, Mr. Simbo Keita has an extensive network of contacts. Through his far reaching distribution network the cottage industries we develop will have the potential for reaching markets throughout the country. So beyond providing shoes for their children, the women will gain economic empowerment and dignity.

U.S. Students and Youth Groups

We continue to work with U.S. students in the middle and high school level. We are also working with youth groups from various churches. By learning about the barefoot children and making shoes for them, they are on a pathway to becoming better global citizens.