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Swaziland Shoe Project
An idea conceived in part to prevent usable shoes from entering our local landfill, the Swaziland Shoe Project was organized in the fall of 2003 by Mary Clark and Alain Hunkins. People from Northampton and surrounding communities turned out en masse over a two day period to donate over 2,000 pairs of used shoes for the Moya Community Healing Centre.
Swaziland, landlocked within South Africa and the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa, is suffering with an HIV/AIDS epidemic. It has the second highest rate of infected people in the world. Adding to the burden, the country’s King Mswati III was ranked by Parade Magazine as tenth worst dictator in the world today.
The Moya Community Healing Centre empowers the community by teaching them to care for their own health and to take care of the needs of their sick relatives. The Centre also helps provide for the needs of parentless children. Entirely funded by donations, they do not charge for any of their services.
“Here we are together with the teachers preparing the shoes for the kids .. they came in grade by grade … we must have given away about 150 pairs of shoes today!”
“I cannot portray the shreiks of delight as we unpacked these shoes for the entire school of Mhlabeni … all very poor … and so very happy. There had been a parents/teachers meeting and they were so very excited … can you see the excitement at the soccer boots!”
“Even the little ones had a field day. You saved their soles!” -Jane Cox, Director, Moya Community Healing Centre
About the Moya Community Healing Centre
Read the Thank You letter from the Director of the Moya Centre, Jane Cox