Drive to collect 2,500 pairs of shoes seeks to help young woman in Congo

By KILEY McALEER
Posted 12/13/18

By KILEY McALEER Bella Bianco, a senior at the Prout School, is on a mission to collect 2,500 pairs of new or gently used shoes by January 14. No, the Prout School senior isn't out to make the Guinness Book of Records. Rather, the shoes will go towards

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Drive to collect 2,500 pairs of shoes seeks to help young woman in Congo

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Bella Bianco, a senior at the Prout School, is on a mission to collect 2,500 pairs of new or gently used shoes by January 14.

No, the Prout School senior isn’t out to make the Guinness Book of Records. Rather, the shoes will go towards two great causes: sending a young woman in the Congo to law school, and providing shoes to people living in less developed countries than the United States.

The effort is also part of a school program. At Prout, juniors and seniors are offered the opportunity to take International Baccalaureate courses that, upon completion, earn them a diploma and possible college credits. The requirements to receive the diploma include six courses taken during the student’s junior and senior years, “a capstone class entitled Theory of Knowledge, an original extended essay on an area of individual in-depth study and the CAS or ‘Creativity, Action and Service’ program”, according to the school’s website.

Bella was inspired to complete her service project after hearing a speech at the Wakefield Rotary Club with her mother and teacher, Jeanne Tierney. They listened to a speaker from the

Democratic Republic of the Congo named Amani Matabaro Tom. Amani works with a foundation, Action Kivu. According to the foundation’s website, “Action Kivu…exists to support non-profits in Congo (DRC) that are working to bring peace, healing, and educational and vocational opportunities to the victims of the ongoing conflict.” Forty percent of women in the Congo have experienced rape, which is referred to as a “weapon of war” in the country. Action Kivu was founded with the hope of making the Congo a safe place for women and children. One of the victims they have been working to help is Brigette, who was abandoned by her family after being raped, an unfortunately common occurrence in the Congo. Brigette aspires to become a lawyer and defend the rights of women and children, like herself, who have experienced violence. After hearing Brigitte’s story, Bella knew exactly what she needed to do for her service project.

“It resonated with me,” Bella said.

Like Brigette, Bella plans to enter a career field in which she can help children who have faced trauma. Her goal is to work at the Boston Children’s Hospital, where she has been treated for PVNS, a disease that affects the joint in her knee. Since receiving treatment there, Bella has endeavored to give back to the city where she found so much support.

Now, Bella is asking for our help to collect the shoes needed to pay for Brigette’s tuition. If she is able to collect the 2,500 shoes, she will get $1,000 that she can send for Brigette’s tuition, which is estimated at $7,000.

Currently donation boxes are located at the Prout School and outside of Bella’s home in Warwick. Once all of the donations have been collected, the shoes will be exchanged for a check; not only would the check be put towards paying for Brigitte’s education, the shoes donated are also sent to other less developed countries.

Bella is looking for churches and businesses that are willing to host a collection box for her project. You can contact Bella at imbianco608@gmail.com.

A senior at Toll Gate High, Kiley McAleer reported this story as part of her senior project. The two happen to know each other from Winman.

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