One Day Without Shoes at Methodist Girls' School

On 21 October 2025, two Secondary 1 classes, 1H and 1G from Methodist Girls’ School (MGS), participated in an event — One Day Without Shoes by World Vision, which aimed to raise awareness about millions of children living without proper footwear.

The session began with a brief introduction to the condition of children suffering from poverty, aiming to emphasize the severity of their situation. By displaying images of actual infections and diseases caused by continuous walking on rough terrain without adequate protection, the students were horrified by the harsh reality. They were also presented with real stories of children affected by such extreme hardship.

The instructors raised a serious and striking point: the effects of the lack of shoes on a child in the long run. From the stories, many children considered shoes a luxury, and many could not afford a pair. Students expressed feelings of shock since many took their shoes for granted. For less privileged children, it became painful and unsafe to travel long distances to receive education due to the hot, rough roads filled with sharp objects, leading to infections. Some even dropped-out of school. This leads to a cycle of poverty, where children are unable to receive proper education, leading to fewer opportunities to escape poverty.   

Afterwards, students were tasked with making their own pair of shoes using recycled materials such as cardboard, old clothes, shoelaces, and strings. Many enjoyed brainstorming together and constructing various prototypes from different materials. The participants’ creativity was evident in the wide range of shoe types they produced, from sandals to sneakers. When asked, students said they focused on creating shoes that were strong, durable, and sturdy.

After finishing their DIY shoes, the participants took a walk around the school to try out their shoes while carrying jerry cans full of water, fully immersing themselves in daily lives of children who walk long distances barefoot to retrieve water or to school. The students traveled across different terrains like grass and gravel, which cultivated a sense of empathy towards less privileged children who experience worse daily. Many remarked that they felt “frustrated” and “uncomfortable” while walking, and some shoes even fell apart.  

After the walk around the campus, the students returned to reflect on the new perspectives gained and lessons learnt. That day, they were exposed to the harsh realities of society and the sheltered, privileged life they live in Singapore. This newfound realisation led students to better appreciate the opportunities and education they receive and the various social issues that need to be tackled.  

For reflection, students were asked to empathise with the challenges of someone else in their community by walking in their shoes. A participant, Rebecca (1H), shared, “They might have to worry about necessities like food or clothing and may also have fewer opportunities available for them,” while another explained, “I think they are faced with the challenge of poor living conditions like insufficient space and unhygienic housing.” Many felt inspired and expressed their desire to help such children and their communities by donating food, water, and supplies.  

This session opened participants’ eyes to the vulnerable communities and became a truly memorable and valuable experience, allowing them to grow into empathetic, determined youths who will make a change. From walking in others’ shoes and in their own DIY shoes, One Day Without Shoes has allowed youths to learn and grow to be more aware of the world around them.