A Walk In Her Shoes

CARE’s annual fundraiser: invest in women, change the world! (Sponsored)

Imagine taking a walk from Piedmont Park in Midtown, Atlanta to Centennial Olympic Park downtown. This 2.4-mile walk may not seem like much to some, but for girls and women around the world, it’s a lifeline. Every day thousands walk miles, sometimes several times a day, to fetch water for their families for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. On March 3, CARE USA is providing Atlantans an opportunity to experience this unique journey women face at the third annual “Walk In Her Shoes” charity walk. “This is a chance to walk in solidarity with the women and girls who have to walk an average of four miles a day to fetch water for their families, putting themselves in physical danger and limiting their educational and economic opportunities,” says John Aylward, CARE’s chief marketing officer.  “Their entire day is spent on cooking and getting water for their families, instead of studying in school or working to improve their livelihood.”Starting at Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta, participants can take part in a two-mile walk along Atlanta’s Beltline in solidarity with women and girls around the world who on average walk nearly double that distance for water. Walk along the Beltline with CARE USA to raise money and awareness for these women and girls around the world.At Historic Fourth Ward Park CARE USA has a festival with fun engaging activities that highlight some of the issues girls and women face every day in their communities. These immersive experiences help provide education through fun activities for all ages. There will be more than six CARE activity stations including:

  • “The Water Carry,” an event that simulates the experience of women who carry multiple jerry cans of water to their homes from long distances
  • “Refugee Experience” that simulates the check in process at a refugee camp
  • “She Feeds the World,” a seed-planting station that will be replanted at CARE’s community garden.

“CARE invests in women and girls so they can change the world,” Aylward says. “The walk on the Beltline and the activities are designed to give people a small understanding of what it really means to be a girl in many countries around the world and how her daily life is affected.” CARE has been providing aid to people around the world since 1945. As the founder of the original “CARE Packages” sent to survivors of World War II, CARE has grown to support more than 1000 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian-aid projects in 94 countries around the world. To participate in CARE’s “Walk In Her Shoes,” or to donate, go to www.walk.care.org.  The website contains details about the event including how to register, set fundraising goals and establish a team, plus information about CARE. To help raise money, you can make it a family affair, or walk with friends or co-workers. “We want people to understand that poverty is a global phenomenon where women and girls struggle for survival every day,” Aylward says. “Atlantans walking in solidarity and supporting CARE, will allow our organization to continue to make lives better. If we invest in women and girls we can change the world.”

Third annual CARE “Walk In Her Shoes” walk. Saturday, March 3. 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Historic Fourth Ward Park, 680 Dallas St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Registration encouraged. www.walk.care.org