Barefoot for Holy Week
Linda Chambers of The United Society is planning to go barefoot for Holy Week. “My feet are used to the protection of socks, slippers, shoes and boots. I am uncomfortable in bare feet, even around the house.
The pupils in the primary schools of Swaziland have much tougher feet; they walk many miles barefoot, in all kinds of weather, and over all sorts of terrain. They have no socks, slippers, shoes or boots. In solidarity with them, and to raise funds for Swazi schools, I plan to go barefoot for Holy Week.”
Pupils like Celi Mdluli walk many kilometres to school and back every day without shoes. Most of this walking is across country, muddy in the summer, and cold and dusty in the winter. Most of the schools are situated in mountainous areas, where we would find walking difficult in good sturdy shoes – barefoot for us would be impossible. A big incentive to make the journey for many is the lack of food at home and the promise of a hot meal in school. Schools struggle to meet the cost of these meals.
Any money Linda raises will go to the Diocese of Swaziland Board of Education, which looks after the 22 Anglican primary schools and 4 Anglican high schools. The establishment of this board means that decisions regarding local priorities are taken locally and we know that those schools most in need of help receive it first.
You can help by joining her or sponsoring her via this link
or contact her on: 086 8586337 or us@ireland.anglican.org. Donations can be sent to Us, Egan House, St Michan’s Church, Church Street, Dublin 7.