26 Apr 2010 Barefoot walk: Kris Allen takes steps to help those in Rwanda

The event highlighted the shoe-giving efforts of TOMS Shoes, as well as the work of Bridge 2 Rwanda. Allen spoke about his recent trip to the African country, which is making strides toward economic growth after the 1994 genocide. Allen recently attended a “shoe drop” through TOMS, in which employees, supporters or celebrities are given the opportunity to meet and put shoes on children in the 28 impoverished nations around the world where TOMS donates shoes.
UCA freshman Josh Whitehurst of Conway organized the Barefoot Walk, one of many events making up a TOMS campaign called A Day Without Shoes.

“There’s been a massive response of students wanting to help out. It’s unbelievable,” he said.

Participants were encouraged to go all day or at least part of the day without shoes.

“It’s hard to walk around all day without shoes. That’s the point. We’re trying to raise awareness,” Allen said.
Whitehurst learned the day before the event that Allen would attend. Allen performed a few songs at Reynolds Performance Hall for the mass that turned out to walk at UCA. Whitehurst said 500 or 600 people turned out to walk barefoot across campus.

Regarding his trip to Rwanda, Allen said, “I got to put shoes on the (children’s) feet and be a part of things. I’d been on a couple of mission trips before. I feel like Bridge 2 Rwanda is doing things on a different scale. They’re partnering with governments. They’re changing things for the long haul.”

Bridge 2 Rwanda is an Arkansas-based nonprofit organization. It is working to help Rwanda continue its progress in educating its youth and build a thriving economy. For the children, having shoes on their feet is one step in the right direction toward better health and thereby, a better education.

Asked about children suffering from diseased feet from going barefoot, Allen noted a number of those who had shoes wore pairs that were too small or even wore two left shoes.

“You just don’t see that here, but the rewarding thing was that we’re doing something about it now,” he said.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip for Allen was at Sonrise School, one of the nation’s top-performing schools, which educates a large number of orphans. One of the children at the school was named Freddie.

“He said he didn’t want to go home to his dad with these (old) shoes on. They were girls’ shoes. They were too small, and they were falling apart,” Allen said.

Dale Dawson of Bridge 2 Rwanda said, “Our goal is to bring attention to what’s happening. No one ever goes to Rwanda without being transformed. Our hope is that we can transform lives at both ends.”
Education and entrepreneurship are the two main drivers behind the work of Bridge 2 Rwanda, but health goes along with it, said Dawson.

“You can’t educate kids if you don’t keep them healthy,” he said. “Sonrise is great, but we also provide for the best students to come to the U.S., mostly in Arkansas. They will be the leaders of Rwanda.”

Melissa Yates of Bridge 2 Rwanda said there are 81 presidential scholars from Rwanda attending Arkansas colleges and universities. Four students will attend UCA in the fall, she said.

Jessica Shortall, director of giving for TOMS Shoes, said the company gives away a pair of shoes for every pair purchased. They have given away 600,000 pairs of shoes. She noted school attendance increases when children have shoes.

“We have over 1,000 events happening around the world. This is one of the most exciting, because it encompasses everything,” she said.

Allen said he plans to travel to Rwanda again for a larger shoe drop this summer.