👟 Protecting feet to protect childhood
Luigi and Paolo's initiative in Limbauan, Philippines
In the Philippines, in remote rural areas such as Limbauan, walking barefoot is a habit imposed by poverty. But for the children, it's much more than just a source of discomfort: it's a constant source of danger.
In 2023, Luigi and Paolo, on the ground in the village of Limbauan (Isabela province), took a simple but decisive decision: to give new shoes to the children at the local school. With no organisation, no grants and no outside support, they acted alone, with their own resources, in the face of a reality they could no longer ignore.
📍 A barefoot daily life in the Philippine hinterland
In many rural areas of the Philippines, more than 4 million children live in poverty, often far from roads, health centres and public services.
According to UNICEF Philippines27 % of Filipino children were living below the poverty line in 2021. This figure rises to well over 40 % in rural areas. Every day, hundreds of thousands of children go to school or help their parents in the fields without shoes.
To find out more about our actions in the region, see our article on the construction of a classroom in Limbauan.
⚠️ Health risks associated with walking barefoot
🐍 1 Snake bites
There are around 14,000 cases of snakebites in the Philippines every year.
These bites cause between 200 and 300 deaths a year, with a high proportion of children (up to 35 % of victims). In rural areas, children are often bitten on the foot or ankle when they are walking through grass, near rice fields or on paths that are not clear.
🐛 2 Poisonous insects and arthropods
Scorpions, tropical red ants and spiders frequently live in wooded or humid areas. Their bites or stings cause acute pain, local infections and sometimes severe allergic reactions, even anaphylactic shock.
🦠 3. Soil parasites
Up to 75 % of children living in rural areas are infested by soil-borne intestinal parasites, such as hookworm or Strongyloides stercoralis.
These infections lead to severe anaemia, chronic fatigue, stunted growth, cognitive problems and general weakness. In the most serious cases, particularly in immunocompromised children, strongyloidiasis can lead to death if not treated in time.
💧 4. Leptospirosis
This bacterial infection is transmitted by rat urine in stagnant water. It enters the body through cuts or abrasions to the feet. In the Philippines, the authorities record an average of 680 cases and around 40 deaths a year linked to this disease, mainly during the rainy season.
📚 Source: Department of Health Philippines - Leptospirosis Surveillance
🔥 5. Burns, cuts, tetanus
Overheated ground, pieces of glass or metal, thorns and agricultural debris all cause open wounds. If left untreated, these wounds easily become infected. Tetanus, although rarer today, still represents a threat in regions where vaccination coverage remains incomplete.
📚 Social and educational impact of lack of footwear
Children who walk barefoot are not only exposed to health risks. It also affects their access to education and their self-esteem:
🔁 Increased absenteeism
Children who are injured or ill often stay at home. According to some local studies, wearing shoes can reduce absences by 30 to 40 %.
🧒 Social stigma
Walking barefoot is a visible sign of poverty, leading to shame, marginalisation and withdrawal from the classroom.
🏫 Dropping out of school
In rural areas, many children drop out of school because they lack suitable clothing or footwear.
💪 Luigi and Paolo's initiative: a human, direct and effective response
Luigi and Paolo didn't wait for an NGO to intervene. Watching the children walk to school barefoot, they decided to finance the purchase of new shoes themselves, and then distribute them directly to the pupils.
This gesture had an immediate effect:
✅ The children were able to walk without pain or fear of injury.
✅ Many of them expressed their pride in coming to school well shod, sometimes for the first time in their lives.
✅ The atmosphere at school has clearly improved, with a sense of dignity, motivation and new-found security.
🔄 A simple gesture, a lasting impact
Numerous studies show that wearing shoes has a direct impact on children's health and school performance:
| Measured effect | Estimated impact |
|---|---|
| Reduction in parasitic infections | Up to 80 % |
| Reduced foot injuries | Approx. 60 % |
| Improved visitor numbers | + 25 to 40 % depending on the context |
| Drop in school absenteeism | Up to 30 % in targeted areas |
💛 Inspiration to go further
Luigi and Paolo's commitment was the catalyst. Their action revealed the real needs of the Limbauan community. It was as a result of their work that Helping Hands discovered the school and decided to become involved, in particular through the classroom construction project.
They have shown that sometimes all it takes is two people, two hearts and one simple decision to transform lives.
📢 Join the movement
Today, hundreds of children like those in Limbauan are still waiting for a pair of shoes, a schoolbag and a roof over their heads so that they can learn. Your donation, however small, can make all the difference.
👉 Make a donation - helpinghands.fr
👟 1 pair of shoes = 1 child protected + 1 future freed up
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