Taiwan used shoe campaign saves lives in Kenya

2015-04-29

An Internet-based used shoe donation campaign initiated by a Taiwan missionary couple is helping the residents of rural Kitale in western Kenya stamp out parastic infections and live longer and healthier lives.

Launched last April by Yang Yu-jen and wife Cara, the Used Shoes Save Lives Step 30 initiative has received 400,000 pairs to date, with 120,000 shipped to the East African country.

“We are deeply moved by the enthusiastic response,” Yang said. “Over the past year, we received 20 times more donations than our original estimate and can fill 10 standard 40-foot shipping containers.”

According to Yang, inspiration for the campaign comes from his father-in-law Allen Remley. A retired Canadian missionary dedicated to education in this remote part of Kenya, Remley found many of Kenya’s schoolchildren were afflicted by the chigoe flea as they could not afford shoes. The parasite’s bite causes a variety of ailments, including mild to severe ulceration.

Yang said after sorting through the footwear and selecting those suitable for use in Africa, there were so many left that the couple’s home and church in Taoyuan City, as well as his brother’s warheouse in Taichung City, were filled to the rafters.

“The situation was getting out of control, so we issued an Internet SOS for volunteers to sort the shoes and pack containers,” Yang said. “Fortunately, the youth of Taiwan mobilized behind the cause and we soon had more than 1,000 students from 25 educational institutions lending a hand.

“At present, we still have 810 registered volunteers assisting in answering queries and giving instructions regarding donations. They are indeed lifesavers.”

But it has not been all plain sailing for the couple's footwear initiative. Logistical issues in Kenya resulted in the creation of a literal mountain of shoes at a lowlands settlement near Kitale.

“It took several trips to Kitale,” Yang said, “but we eventually put a distribution system in place ensuring the footwear would quickly reach the town situated around 1,900 meters above sea level.”

Yang said the campaign is also helping clean up the environment, with the young people of Kitale exchanging trash and recyclables for shoes. 

Next step for the couple is to improve the educational facilities in Kitale. “Education is a child’s one chance out of poverty,” Yang said. “Going forward, we will convert the containers into classrooms and give the community hope for a better tomorrow.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=229800&CtNode=413)