IN MY SHOES: SHEFFIELD

We are absolutely thrilled and honoured at M.A.D. that Sheffield is the first community in the UK to embrace our IN MY SHOES initiative.

One of the driving forces behind our work at M.A.D. is to encourage people to ‘do’ peace, to be active in building communities which thrive on harmonious living.  We also strive to communicate the urgency and value of peace, one simple method is to try and get people to see the other point of view – to imagine life in someone else’s shoes.

Shoes are a brilliant tool to act as symbolic reminder of the lives that others lead, some who face war and constant conflict, some who face poverty and some who have lived a life free from torment and tragedy. To be able to feel some empathy with others is hopefully the beginning of greater understanding and the willing to resolve conflict and division between us.

As I walked through Sheffield last Summer with WALKTALK the Leader of the Council, and Chair of Sheffield First Partnership, Cllr Paul Scriven committed Sheffield to an IN MY SHOES annual event.

This July, they’re inviting individuals, groups and schools to get involved by sendng in photos of their shoes, telling brief stories about themselves, to give others an idea of what it’s like to stand in their shoes. They’re also holding roadshows in shopping centres the week beginning 5 July and an IN MY SHOES event in the Peace Gardens on Wednesday 8 July 5.30 – 7.00pm.

If you want to be involved with M.A.D’s forthcoming IN MY SHOES events please email me at gill@madforpeace.org.

We’re working on some other great IN MY SHOES projects, so watch this space!

(Photograph copyright M.A.D. for Peace. All rights reserved)