Our First Outreach: What 403 Pairs of Sandals Taught Us

When we first started planning our outreach to LA Government Primary School in Ajegunle, we thought we were bringing school supplies. We left having learned something about what “support” actually means.

The idea was simple on paper: distribute exercise books to every student in the school, and give sandals to the children whose own were falling apart. In practice, it meant a morning of quiet conversations with teachers who knew exactly which children needed which size, which families were struggling the most, and which small gesture would mean the most.

By the end of the day, we had handed out more than 1,000 exercise books and 403 pairs of school sandals. But the number that stuck with us wasn’t either of those — it was watching a handful of students sit down properly for the first time in shoes that actually fit, and seeing what that did to how they carried themselves for the rest of the day.

Why sandals?

It’s easy to overlook. A worn-out pair of shoes doesn’t show up in a school’s academic reports. But ask any teacher, and they’ll tell you: a child who’s uncomfortable, self-conscious, or in pain is a child who’s not fully present in the classroom — no matter how good the lesson is.

Meeting a basic physical need is sometimes the first step toward meeting an educational one.

What made the day possible

We’re grateful to the teachers and staff of LA Primary School Ajegunle, who welcomed us on short notice and helped us understand exactly where the need was greatest. We’re equally grateful to the State Universal Basic Education Board, who lent their support and helped make the day run smoothly.

After the distribution, we stayed on to teach, play, and share a light refreshment with the students — because an outreach day should feel like a good day, not just a transaction.

What comes next

This was our first initiative, not our last. As ICED grows, we’re building toward more structured, recurring programmes — in education, youth empowerment, creativity and community intervention — so that days like this one become part of an ongoing relationship with the communities we serve, not a single visit.

If your school, community group, or organisation would like to work with us on something similar, get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.