Because I have none!

By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud

It was a beautiful morning as Mama Sarah and I took our morning walk along the Ibanda-Kamwenge Road. We tried to be regular in our morning exercise by walking about an hour before starting our day's work.

Along the way, we passed by children getting out from rough, gravel inner roads walking in the same direction as us. Children and adults alike took a pause from their walk to look at us as if wondering where we are heading to. Most of the children walked barefoot and I could not help asking the oldest of them.

"Because I have none!" was Caroline's quick reply when I asked why she walks barefoot. Caroline is 16 years old and a prefect in her school. I asked how far she had walked or how far is her house from school. She can't tell us the distance nor the time it takes her to school, but said it's very far! She walks to school  everyday.

Meet Caroline!

I noticed the clothes she wore  which turned out to be her school uniform was wet. "I washed it last night and didn't get dry," she explained, "and this is the only pair I have!"

I told her I want to be her friend and know her more so I invited her to come on Saturday and maybe after we talk or chat, we (with Mama Sarah) can walk her back to her house to meet her family. Mama Sarah had been very helpful in my conversations with children and folks as we do our morning walks.

Excited to talk with Caroline and know more about her!

Some of my friends from Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland have planned to put up a love basket during their care group meetings and encourage every one to drop some amount each time. Their goal is to save enough to give some children shoes so to make their daily walk to school feel a little better.

If you feel called to join us and share your blessings wih the barefoot school children in Western Uganda, please contact us at TCInternationalUS@gmail.com.