Barefoot Peace Walk - FAQs
Walking for peace: What is it all about?
International Refugee Trust (IRT) is currently involved with several small scale projects in northern Uganda and near the southern border of Sudan. Both partners in northern Uganda and in South Sudan have been affected greatly by the Lord's Resistance Army. In 2009, a bishop in Yambio, South Sudan, organised a barefoot walk to remeber the LRA victims and to bring the atrocities to the attention of the world. Toshow solidarity, we organsied a similar event in London as well as in Gulu, northern Uganda. In 2010 the town of Lira in northern Uganda joined in as well. As we are in constant communication with our partners, we are receiving more and more firsthand accounts of the violence attacks in South Sudan and DR Congo. One of our projects is helping refugees from Congo who come into Nzara, South Sudan. The vast majority of these refugees say they are on the run from teh LRA. They tell us these attacks are targeting innocent civilians, mostly children, and are involving rape, killings, mutilations and abductions. Mass displacement of people is also occurring as the fear of the LRA’s chaos spreads throughout central Africa.
What are we trying to achieve?
Our aim is to draw public attention to what is going on in the lives of our beneficiaries. In northern Uganda the LRA is no longer active, but the people are still traumatised and scared. The LRA is still very much alive in their mindds, something which we learned quickly when over 1,000 people attended the first Barefoot Peace Walk in Gulu in 2009. In Nzara, South Sudan, floods of refugees from DR Congo come in everyday. Nzara is very close to the border, therefore it is the fist point of call for most refugees. As well as that, there are actually LRA rebels in the region around Nzara as well, with attacks happening in remote villages in the surrounding area. It is for these people who we know so well that we would like to let the world know about what is going on.
What is IRT's connection with the region?
IRT has several projects in the Gulu District in northern Uganda as well as in South Sudan. For this reason we are watching LRA developments closely and have a grave concern for our local partners and the displaced people in the region. We urgently want to raise people’s awareness of what is happening in the region and how much our on-going support is needed there.
Why walk barefoot?
We started this walk to mirror an event which took place in 2009: a silent and barefoot walk in protest against the LRA and in remembrance of the victims in Yambio, South Sudan. It was organized to remember those killled and abducted in the region during the months before.
Barefoot you're more vulnerable than you would be in trainers or even nice dainty pumps. People who are stuck in conflict zones, such as that of the LRA, are vulnerable and this way we show solidarity with them.
Do I have to walk barefoot?
No, you don't, walking barefoot is completely optional!
Please bear in mind that if you decide to walk barefoot, IRT cannot be held responsible for any damage this may do to you.
Parents bringing their children are advised to let the children keep their shoes on during the Walk.
St John's Amulance volunteers will be present to help should there be any problems. However, last year around 150 people attended and we had no damaged feet, the street of London are remarkably clean!
What if it's cold?
Please don't leave your shoes at home, you may want to put them back on after a few yards (and photo's)!
How long is the walk?
The walk will take about an hour. It's not strenuous at all and will be entirely on well paved surfaces.
What happens after the walk?
After the walk you are invited to attend our after-event. This will take place at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden. Please click along to our After Events for more information of all the things that will be happening after the walk!