New shoes, new challenges
"At the end of the day, we would
like eyes to be open."
That's how Leslie Gloor Duncan, team coordinator of the Transition, Leadership and Enrichment Programs at the Western Student Success Centre, summed up what she hopes individuals at Western University take away from experiencing the sometimes difficult realities of others.
The Borrowed Shoes Diversity Challenge is now in its second year. From January 21 until February 8, students, staff and faculty have the opportunity to step into another's shoes. This year, the program revolves around those who are restrained by monetary, dietary or health conditions.
The first week of challenges revolved around reducing a budget for those living in poverty. Participants were challenged with a $60 budget for one week that included everything from groceries to personal spending money to entertainment.
"A lot of the students were saying they were ready to move on from eating canned soup every day," said Gloor Duncan.
Other challenges throughout that week included sleeping on the floor for a night, wearing the same clothing multiple days in a row, and complete separation from any technology.
"I can't go a second without checking my email or going on Facebook," said Perani Chander, Borrowed Shoes organizer and participant. "Knowing that there are people out there that can do that makes me realize how fortunate I am and how I assume that I have all these things that will just always be there, and that's not always the case."
The second week focused on dietary restrictions. Every day was a different challenge including no lactose day and vegan day.
The third week is all about disability awareness. Throughout the week, participants have to get around campus using only wheelchair accessible routes: finding the elevators, avoiding University College Hill as it is too steep for wheelchair use, and walking up ramps.
Gloor Duncan said the point of this is to "gain a little bit of knowledge and understanding of what individuals may be facing."
Considering the restrictions some individuals may have, Gloor Duncan said, "They're meant to be fairly simple challenges that anyone can implement on any given day."
Essentially, "the whole idea is for individuals who are going through the challenge to pause, take a moment, reflect, and think, 'Okay, if someone was facing this, I can understand more now what daily challenges they might be facing.'"
Chander is no stranger to the challenges people endure on a daily basis.
"I'm from a small village in India; a lot of people there they don't have the basic necessities."
This is her second year participating in Borrowed Shoes events. Inspired by the experience, as leadership chair coordinator of the Leadership and Mentorship Program at Western, she decided to organize this year's events.
The Western community is continually showing their support for the program. Participants are posting their reflections on social media through pictures and videos.
One person stood out to Chander.
"I've met a person who had diabetes and celiac disease and she was telling me how most people don't realize how hard it is for them to even go out and find the food that they can eat. The Borrowed Shoes Diversity Challenge is a great way for people to understand the life that she leads."
As a Western advocate for diversity, Chander said she wants people to "get out there, be as openminded as possible and try different things. You never know what you might learn from the things that you try."
The three-week adventure comes to an end at Althouse College in the gymnasium on February 8. There will be more challenges going on, including one-armed basketball.
It's one final way for people to "think of the way that individuals may still participate in activities yet participate in them in an alternative way," said Gloor Duncan.
Borrowed Shoes had 250 participants officially sign up so far this year — 100 more people than in 2012. To register to participate in the last few days, check out tinyurl.com/borrowedshoes2013.
That's how Leslie Gloor Duncan, team coordinator of the Transition, Leadership and Enrichment Programs at the Western Student Success Centre, summed up what she hopes individuals at Western University take away from experiencing the sometimes difficult realities of others.
The Borrowed Shoes Diversity Challenge is now in its second year. From January 21 until February 8, students, staff and faculty have the opportunity to step into another's shoes. This year, the program revolves around those who are restrained by monetary, dietary or health conditions.
The first week of challenges revolved around reducing a budget for those living in poverty. Participants were challenged with a $60 budget for one week that included everything from groceries to personal spending money to entertainment.
"A lot of the students were saying they were ready to move on from eating canned soup every day," said Gloor Duncan.
Other challenges throughout that week included sleeping on the floor for a night, wearing the same clothing multiple days in a row, and complete separation from any technology.
"I can't go a second without checking my email or going on Facebook," said Perani Chander, Borrowed Shoes organizer and participant. "Knowing that there are people out there that can do that makes me realize how fortunate I am and how I assume that I have all these things that will just always be there, and that's not always the case."
The second week focused on dietary restrictions. Every day was a different challenge including no lactose day and vegan day.
The third week is all about disability awareness. Throughout the week, participants have to get around campus using only wheelchair accessible routes: finding the elevators, avoiding University College Hill as it is too steep for wheelchair use, and walking up ramps.
Gloor Duncan said the point of this is to "gain a little bit of knowledge and understanding of what individuals may be facing."
Considering the restrictions some individuals may have, Gloor Duncan said, "They're meant to be fairly simple challenges that anyone can implement on any given day."
Essentially, "the whole idea is for individuals who are going through the challenge to pause, take a moment, reflect, and think, 'Okay, if someone was facing this, I can understand more now what daily challenges they might be facing.'"
Chander is no stranger to the challenges people endure on a daily basis.
"I'm from a small village in India; a lot of people there they don't have the basic necessities."
This is her second year participating in Borrowed Shoes events. Inspired by the experience, as leadership chair coordinator of the Leadership and Mentorship Program at Western, she decided to organize this year's events.
The Western community is continually showing their support for the program. Participants are posting their reflections on social media through pictures and videos.
One person stood out to Chander.
"I've met a person who had diabetes and celiac disease and she was telling me how most people don't realize how hard it is for them to even go out and find the food that they can eat. The Borrowed Shoes Diversity Challenge is a great way for people to understand the life that she leads."
As a Western advocate for diversity, Chander said she wants people to "get out there, be as openminded as possible and try different things. You never know what you might learn from the things that you try."
The three-week adventure comes to an end at Althouse College in the gymnasium on February 8. There will be more challenges going on, including one-armed basketball.
It's one final way for people to "think of the way that individuals may still participate in activities yet participate in them in an alternative way," said Gloor Duncan.
Borrowed Shoes had 250 participants officially sign up so far this year — 100 more people than in 2012. To register to participate in the last few days, check out tinyurl.com/borrowedshoes2013.
