The Put Foot Foundation has become synonymous with giving children hope, pride and dignity through the gift of a brand new pair of school shoes. Through this simple act, children in need are able to play, learn and have fun. The National Barefoot Day has been created to highlight the impact of not having the basics, in this case a pair of school shoes. Walking to school in the height of winter is traumatic, and the embarrassment of not having shoes overshadows the necessity to learn.
The National Barefoot Day will fall in Youth Month (June) each year, and will be acknowledged on the first working day following Youth Day (16 June). 2013 will see the National Barefoot Day falling on Tuesday, 18 June. Daryn Hillhouse, Put Foot Foundation chairman, has challenged all South Africans to go barefoot on this day for an hour or a few minutes, to experience what millions of young children in our country have to deal with every day, to fully understand the extent of the problem and to show their support for South Africa's children.
South Africans participating in National Barefoot Day can sign up or pledge their support onwww.nationalbarefootday.com, and share their story of support via the official National Barefoot Day Facebook page. On the day, supporters can also TwitPic or Instagram their favourite images along with messages of solidarity, with the hashtags #BarefootSA or #ShoesOnFeet.
"We want to create a movement, and more importantly we want to help put brand new pairs of 100% leather locally produced school shoes on the feet of every needy child in South Africa," pledged Hillhouse.
Hillhouse went on to add that the Put Foot Foundation, a registered NGO, has raised more than R1.5 million since inception in June 2012: "We have helped over 5000 children and touched the lives of hundreds of teachers, parents and ordinary South Africans. The National Barefoot Day is the next chapter in the foundation's success, and we need all South Africans to get involved, including corporates or individuals - we can all make a difference."
Supporters of National Barefoot Day, who have registered on the official website, can donate to the Put Foot Foundation or volunteer their time for one of the national shoe drops taking place at schools across South Africa.
For further information on the foundation, go to www.putfootfoundation.org.
