Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen reports
The Rotaract Club of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has showcased its impactful initiative ‘Shoe a Child’ project, at Gidan Marayu, Shama village situated within the university community.
Held on Sunday, 28th April, the exercise, aimed to extend humanitarian assistance and support in providing footwear to the needy, including the underprivileged homeless, and orphans.
Speaking with The News Digest press, Alliyu Zainab Oluwanishola, a 400-level Pure and Environmental Chemistry Student emphasized the benefit of the project.
According to her, the villagers will be able to get shoes for their children as the initiative will reduce children walking barefoot.
“The benefits villagers gain from it is that they were able to get new shoes for their children and it brought a smile to their face and is to reduce children that walk barefooted in the school presence.”
Also, speaking with Yusuf Abdulbasit Oladipupo, a 400-level Pure Chemistry Student and Chairman of the Shoe a Child Committee said the purpose of the initiative is to provide footwear for the underprivileged and shoeless.
“The purpose of the program was to provide shoes for the underprivileged and shoeless children.”
Mahmud Mistura Ajoke, a 400-level Applied chemistry student said that the project aims to protect the children from any dangers that may occur while walking without shoes.
“It’s to ensure that they have access to proper shoes for improved health since there are a lot of dangers that could result from walking barefoot.”
In an interview with Sheu Fatimoh Bolanle, a 400-level English and Literary Studies and President of Rotaract Club felt fulfilled by putting a smile on some people’s faces.
“I feel fulfilled, putting a smile on people’s faces makes me happy too.”
She maintained that the purpose of the program is to inform the world that every child is entitled to wear footwear, and we are giving hope of self-belonging.
“The purpose of the program is to tell the world that every child deserves to wear a shoe whether they are orphans or they have parents or they are Almajiri or anybody, we are all entitled to feel good, we are also giving them that hope that there are some people that care about them.”
Expressing further, she urged people to render assistance. They need to be treated humanely because they are also human.
“The positive outcome from this program is we are sending messages to the world generally that no matter the kind of person they are or how bad they are, they aren’t meant to be abandoned, they are humans. We want to note that these people are existing, it might not be shoes but they can offer them clothes or a house since they are homeless.”