What do shoes have to do with it? Finding unexpected barriers to education

Our "picture of the week" blogs highlight photos of daily life in our Kenyan community and provide an opportunity for the TARA community members to get to know one another.  The blogs post every Friday.  We hope to see you here every week!  


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During my last trip to Kenya, I was lucky enough to have the time to explore the countryside.  One morning, during a particularly long walk, I ran into a group of school children, marching along the dirt path.  Because they had seen me with my camera so often, they began chanting, "Photo! Photo!"  The boys struck kung fu poses and the girls threw their arms around one another.  The photo shoot degenerated into a giggling, sweaty frenzy of arms and legs, and then things began to get a little rough.  Nudges turned into shoves and squeals of laughter turned into disgruntled growls.  So, I decided it was time to change the subject.


"How was school?"  It was fine.


"Um, what did you do today."  Studied.


"Wait, it's still early.  Why are you going home?"


The kids explained to me that they had been sent away from school because did not have the proper uniform.  This was confusing as they all had matching, blue gingham school uniforms on.  After some discussion, I discovered that they had been sent away because they were not wearing black, close toed shoes.  Apparently every once in a while, there is a uniform crack down and today was one such occasion.  The kids thought it was pretty funny when I asked to take a picture of their shoes but they were quick to offer up colorful, flip-flopped and sneaker-ed feet to the camera.


After a few more shots, they went their way and I went mine, but I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that although school fees were paid and uniforms were donned, these kids were still missing classes because they didn't have the right shoes.  After doing some research I found out that there are some schools that have altered the uniform requirement to ANY shoes; but the vast majority still requires the black, close toed variety.  These shoes were one more barrier to education for children.* 


Upon discovering barriers, I--like my fellow TARA Project community members--enjoy finding ways to remove those barriers.  By investing in The TARA Project's scholarship program, you are helping us to reduce barriers to education.  Not only do we provide scholarships, we provide the materials and tools students need in order to stay in school and to get the most out of their education--including shoes.  Think about it: Just a $2 pair of shoes may be the only barrier a girl faces to accessing an education that will help her and her future family live a longer, healthier life.  But don't wait too long to take action, because as they say, "Between saying and doing, many pair of shoes are worn out."    


--Alyssa


*The rational around requiring shoes is not purely an aesthetic one.  Shoes are also an important preventive measure against intestinal worms and other parasites; but that's another story.  Stay tuned to our blogs for more info on ways shoes can change lives.