Eid Shoe Distribution: Bringing Joy & Hope to Children at Torbalı
Reported by: Fatma Cuma
When I set off from Istanbul to visit the Torbalı campsite, my heart was excited along with the children. Because they were going to be dressed in new shoes for Eid and I was going to share this happy moment. This charity event aimed to make a small but meaningful difference in the lives of children.
During the planning phase, we started by analyzing details such as the number of children, their ages and genders, and selecting the children correctly. We did not make the children impatient while waiting for the shoes, by placing an order with a shoe store and having them ready the day before the Eid.
As the day of the shoe distribution approached, we talked to the children to determine their shoe preferences. Most children were eagerly waiting to receive their shoes. At the same time, we made sure that the children remembered how important they are to us.
Children of the settlement playing soccer with their new shoes, led by their teacher, Ahmad.
In addition, the sweets and candies we bought for Eid, combined with the shoe distribution, contributed to the joy of Eid for the children and their families. The sweets and candies increased the joy of the children and brought smiles to the faces of the children as well as their families.
On the distribution day, the excitement and joy of the children visibly increased. Everyone chose the sweets and candies they wanted and families and children alike were all smiling.
This charity event has impacted children's daily lives in many ways. Perhaps the taste of candy and sweets will be temporary, but touching their lives, striving for their happiness and helping them realize their dreams has a more long lasting impact.
During our conversation with the children, they told us a few examples:
A little girl's mother always made her wear her older sister's big shoes and consoled her that “you will grow up”. But now there was no need for her to wear her sister's shoes, she had her own shoes.
Wailin's father was too poor to buy a decent pair of shoes for her. When Wailin's shoes arrived, there was a mixture of surprise and joy on her face. On the second day, the teacher sent me a message that Wailin had slept that day without taking off his shoes.
Mustafa loved to play soccer and he used to play with slippers, but he used to play barefoot because he was always falling down and this would injure his foot. His father used to tell him that it was impossible to play soccer in slippers. When his shoes arrived, Mustafa was overjoyed because he finally had a decent pair of shoes. Now, no matter if it rained or the sun shone, nothing could stop him from playing soccer.
Rayife, on the other hand, didn't even have slippers, so she didn't play much with the children because previously the stones and glass had hurt her feet, now she gets to play and run freely.
And many other stories we don't know...
As a result, the shoe distribution and Eid decorations we organized for the camp children in Izmir managed to make a difference by touching their lives.