Alew, a refugee from Darfur,
visits Sole Responsibility.
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April 22,
2008
An update on Darfur from the UNHCR
Click here (MS
Word)
February
20, 2008
Update: 2007 Shoe Collection
Nears Destination
The shoes were successfully shipped from
Ottawa on June 21st and have made it to the
border of Chad , after sitting in customs for two months.
The recent unrest in and around the final destination of
N’Djamena has caused some further delays. There have been a
series of armed attacks on UNHCR and other aid agencies in
the region.
It is anticipated by the shipper that the shoes could move
into Chad as early as the beginning of March. We will
continue to provide updates on the arrival of the shoes.
April 20, 2007
Sole Responsibility Launches 2007 Shoe Collection Campaign
Third annual campaign for local runners to provide shoes to
Darfur refugees
Until May31st, Sole
Responsibility, a local non-profit organization, will collect used
running and walking shoes throughout the city and at the Pfizer Sports
Expo at the Ottawa Race Weekend. These gently used shoes will be
provided to refugees from Darfur. Sole Responsibility is asking for a
donation of two dollars with each pair of shoes to help offset shipping
costs.
“This is an easy way for everyone in Ottawa to show support for the
refugees from Darfur and the grave situation they find themselves in”,
said Sole Responsibility’s Jennifer North. “It has been heartwarming to
see so much support from the Ottawa community over the past few years –
in just two years we collected almost 6000 pairs of shoes.”
Each year since the first shoe collection in 2005, Sole Responsibility
has consulted with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
to determine the area of greatest need. For the third year in a row the
shoes will be collected for distribution to the refugees from Darfur.
"Providing footwear is not on our list of essential items for keeping
people alive," said UNHCR Spokesperson, Nanda Na Champassak, “but it was
evident from a previous distribution report that for refugee youths
burdened by darkness and violence, it was like a talisman of hope."
To help raise the money needed to ship shoes to Africa, Sole
Responsibility is launching the Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Campaign, an on-line auction for quality time with community leaders and
celebrities such as Michael Potter, Stephen Beckta, Ed Broadbent, Allan
Rock, Ray Zahab, Tracey Clark and Debbie Weinstein.
- Take a flight in a WWII aircraft with Michael Potter
- Start building your wine cellar with help from Stephen Beckta
- Get some running tips from Ray Zahab, who has just finished a 7000km
run across the Sahara Desert
- Enjoy lunch with Ed Broadbent or Allan Rock – both of them a wealth
of knowledge about national and international affairs - interesting
lunch dates
- Go for a run with Lucy van Oldenbarneveld and Rick Hellard
- Enjoy a coffee-tasting at Bridgehead with Tracey Clark
These are just a few samples of auction items - full details are
available on the web site. Sole Responsibility will collect running and walking shoes from April
20th until May 31 st. Shoes can be dropped off at various locations
throughout the city or at the Pfizer Sports Expo at the national capital
race weekend (www.runottawa.ca).
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