Supporter Highlight: Camille Boulware

By Tracey Stipp, Samaritan’s Feet Marketing Volunteer

How exciting it is to see children with a heart for impacting their world!  It is hard for American youth to see beyond the boundaries of their schools, their athletic fields and their fun times with friends.  Camille Boulware, an 11 year old 5^th grader at Eastover Elementary in Charlotte, NC found a way to expand her thinking and to impact the lives of children all over the world.  Camille recently sponsored a “Go Barefoot For A Day” at her school.  By donating a dollar or more, students were allowed to go barefoot for a day.  The challenge was not only to raise money and new shoes for the work of Samaritan’s Feet, but to also create empathy for the mass numbers of children around the world who go to school every day without shoes.  Let’s hear what she had to say about her experience.

What inspired you to initiate a Barefoot Day at your school?

Samaritan’s Feet inspired me to do this. I wanted the students to realize what it would be like to be barefoot.

Were students worried about getting their feet dirty, or even hurting their feet by wearing no shoes?

Students were scared about getting their feet dirty! My answer to that was that is the whole point of the day, to see what it be like to go barefoot for a day.

Did most of your schoolmates realize that simple shoes are something many children around the world do not even have?

Most students don’t realize what one pair of simple sneakers can do for someone. Most kids only care about their neon shoes, and are mad at the school for not letting them wear their cool shoes.

Were you encouraged to sponsor this type of project again in the future?

I would sponsor an event like this in the future. I want to make a difference. I think it is important for me to sponsor an event similar to this.

How can you encourage other children that they too can make a difference to help children less fortunate than themselves?

I would inspire others by doing events similar to this. I would tell the kids some stories about experiences with people who didn’t have any shoes. Once people here what people go through that are just like us they will become inspired.

Camille, thank you for making a difference for kids around the world with your hard work and perseverance!