Taiwan’s Used Shoes Save Lives in Kenya

2014-12-09

To prevent infestation of the chigoe flea for people living in the shadow of Mount Elgon in Kitale, western Kenya, Yang Yu-jen and his wife Cara, a Taiwan missionary couple, launched the Internet-based campaign “Used Shoes Save Lives Step 30” April 19.

Yang took inspiration from his father-in-law, Allen Remley, a retired Canadian missionary and construction company owner who has built two elementary schools in this remote part of Kenya.

Remley had once remarked that most of Kenya’s schoolchildren could not afford shoes. As a consequence, many of them were afflicted by the chigoe flea, a parasite whose bite causes a variety of ailments, including mild to severe ulceration.

Within four days of having launched their campaign, the Yangs had received enough shoes to fill a 40-foot shipping container.

After removing high heels, snow boots and other footwear unsuitable for use in the tropical country, the Yangs still had so many shoes that their home, their church in Chungli and even Yu-jen’s brother’s warehouse in Taichung were filled with used shoes and clothes. The Yangs posted a message on the Internet asking people to refrain from donating more until the surfeit could be distributed.

“Originally, we were hoping to collect enough shoes and clothes to fill a 20-foot container,” Yang explained. “We received eight times that amount.”

“I was overwhelmed by the warm response,” Yang said. “Our call for aid reached as far as Hong Kong. A Hong Konger queried us as to where he should send his shoes.”

Sorting, packing and arranging for shipment took longer than the Yangs had expected, but the first container, filled with more than 14,000 pairs of shoes, finally reached its destination.

Yang made a trip to Kitale in November to see the results of the team’s work. “I saw the happy face of Gladyd who had not worn any shoes in nine years,” said the young missionary. “I was happier than she was, and that was my reward.”

Isaac Chao, an early supporter of the aid drive, said that the team is seeking storage space for the donated items that have not yet been shipped. He added that the second shipment of shoes is expected to leave for Nairobi by the end of 2014.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=224979&CtNode=413)