The Shoe Project reveals how footwear – whether selected by choice or imposed in difficult circumstances – can make or break a journey, shape the present and open the door to a new future. Shoes can be terrible or wonderful, but one thing is certain, every new Canadian has a shoe tale to tell. For those who have embarked on a long journey to a new life in a new country, shoes are a powerful metaphor for their journey.

The members of the Shoe Project come from all over the world. Whether immigrant or refugee, many women are professionals in their own countries but need to improve their communication skills in English to attain their goals in Canada. Others are homemakers, workers or have had their education disrupted but have the desire to lead. Shoe project was created to raise the voices of all.

The program has two major components: the first is a writing workshop. When stories are completed, each woman moves on to personal performance coaching, the second part of our program. The two come together when they perform for the public.

How does it works?

Shoes are a metaphor for journey and transformation. They are with us every step of the way. They are also a great icebreaker for groups of women of diverse age, faith, background and language.

In each city, the Shoe team recruits through newcomers associations and social media. 12 participants are selected based on their desire to write and share their stories.

Writing Workshop:

Participants attend 10 weeks of workshops led by one of our writer-mentors. She will work with each woman to discover and craft a story of her journey to Canada, shaped around a pair of her shoes. This is a collaborative process and workshop participants are supported by their peers.

Performance Coaching:

Once she has completed her story and shared it with the group, each woman begins the one-on-one voice and performance coaching. She may then rehearse with the group, and bring her story to the stage.

Performance:

And then they take to the stage. There have been performances in Toronto, Vancouver, Canmore, Calgary, and Halifax attracting audiences of their families and communities, the general public, and other newcomers. The experience of sharing these deeply personal stories is empowering, and, for those who are there to hear, profound.

The mission of the Shoe Program:

• To advance education by providing programs, courses, workshops and seminars to immigrant and refugee women to develop their written and oral skills, as well as their leadership skills.
• To educate the public on the problems faced by immigrant and refugee women in Canada by providing presentations on such topics.

The Shoe Project is a family of women passionate about creating public performances where the brave and moving stories of newcomers and refugees are presented to the public. Meet our family.

Watch our new “Community Hour” episode to learn more about it. https://u-channel.ca/civic-journalism/

Contact Yuliia Kovalenko, our civic journalist, to share your story and explore civic issues by mail to: yuliyakovalenko@u-channel.ca.