A Day Without Shoes: Walking in someone else’s shoes

What does it feel like to walk to school with no shoes on your feet?

That’s the question St Mary’s DSG Pretoria students asked themselves during their “A Day Without Shoes” campaign. For one day, all the girls came to school barefoot. No takkies. No sandals. Just bare feet on the ground.

The goal wasn’t just to feel the cold or the dust, it was to understand.

To understand what life is like for children who don’t have shoes. Children who walk long distances to school every day, no matter the weather.

But St Mary’s DSG didn’t stop at walking barefoot. In true generosity of spirit, they collected shoes, from tiny baby booties to teenager and adult shoes.

Our Transformation, Diversity and Inclusion Grade 7 students had the honour of delivering the shoes and boxes of Easter eggs to Padisago Primary School.

Watching those faces light up as they received the shoes reminded us all why we give.

The students from St Mary’s DSG walked away with more than sore feet. They took away life lessons: gratitude, empathy, and the joy that comes from giving.

We are who we are because of each other.

Thank you, St Mary’s DSG, community, for teaching us that lesson, one step at a time.