In others’ shoes

Ottawa girl takes 8,000-step challenge for women and girls worldwide

Nine-year-old Chloe Baker used to complain whenever she had to drive to the grocery store with her mother.

Then she discovered one significant difference between herself and thousands of other girls around the world.

“Girls in developing countries have to walk very far every day to get food and water for their families,” says Chloe.

“This takes them away from school, which means they do not get an education. This makes it very difficult to better themselves and improve their chance of having a better life.”

As part of an assignment for her class at Briargreen Public School last month, the Grade 3 student began researching international development organization CARE Canada and its Walk in Her Shoes fundraising initiative.

Running from January until May, the annual campaign challenges participants to walk 8,000 steps, or roughly six kilometres, each day for eight days to simulate the distance women and girls in the developing world walk for basic needs such as food, water, firewood or health services.

Chloe was so inspired by what she learned that not only did she sign up, but she even made her own YouTube video and invited a CARE representative to speak to her class. She and her friends have also been making bracelets to sell and raise money for the cause.

She says almost everyone in her class has rallied to help her make them.

“After watching CARE’s videos and reading some of their stories, I realized how lucky I am,” says Chloe. “I have a family, food, clean water and I’m getting an education.”

Chloe’s mother, Jennifer Baker, says she is so proud of her daughter’s efforts to support women and girls worldwide with Walk In Her Shoes, and to get her classmates involved as well.

“Chloe has a strong sense of community and a willingness to help. She is very charitable and committed to helping others — whether it’s across the street or across the world,” she says. “We continue to be amazed with her creativity and ideas for how to help improve the quality of life for others.”

As part of its efforts to fight global poverty, CARE Canada places a special emphasis on empowering women and girls, seeing them as a major catalyst for change and development.

Kevin McCort, CARE Canada’s president and CEO, says that it has been wonderful to see girls like Chloe stepping up to support Walk In Her Shoes.

“I just find it uplifting to know that she could be moved enough to focus her energy on helping CARE change the lives of women and girls thousands of kilometres away,” he says.

Chloe started her eight-day walk April 8, wearing her CARE pedometer to school and walking with her family to reach her 8,000-step goal at the end of the day.

“I’m glad to know that with the help of my friends and family I’ll be able to make a difference in the lives of people I have never met in the developing world,” she says.

Walk in Her Shoes runs from now until the end of May. Funds raised will support CARE Canada’s work to fight poverty, supporting projects that provide safe education, health care, sustainable food, clean water, life-saving emergency assistance and economic development opportunities.

Participants can register online or support Chloe’s efforts by visiting www.care.ca/walk.