HER SHOES
The Legacy of a Most Remarkable Woman
The Brief Story
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Mazalyn Copeland’s aspirations were few and simple – look after her family, own her home in the UK, save for a rainy day and lend a helping hand to others in need. Her accomplishments on the other hand were many and complex, from giving advice and wise counsel to her many friends of all ages through to nurturing and caring for her family and overcoming bureaucratic obstacles.
It is difficult to quantify what made Mazalyn a remarkable woman. Her credentials did not include degrees, and diplomas nor occupational qualifications and professional certificates. She was more qualified by compassion, courage, drive, determination and experience. From very humble beginnings with a rudimentary education, she deliberately fashioned a better life for herself and her family with the most minuscule of resources. In so doing, she defied the odds stacked against her and realized her aspirations in a style that was quintessentially hers.
Without question, Mazalyn’s legacy to her children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, friends and her community is one of an indomitable spirit bathe in love, compassion and courage.
There is no one definitive archive of stories documenting all of Mazalyn’s personal milestones and accomplishments. But the memory of her will continue to illuminate her strength and determination to the next generations.
The Her Shoes Legacy Foundation is a fitting accolade that will not only honour the memory of Mazalyn Copeland but ensures her signature accomplishment resonates beyond perseverance through adversity to shaping a perspective on what is important in life.
The Her Shoes Story
Footprints and legacy
Her Shoes is the brainchild of Maurice Davis, conceived in 2017 in remembrance of his late grandmother Mazalyn Copeland. Touched by her many accomplishments and the way she conducted her life, Maurice wanted to honour her memory in way that would have a practical impact on the lives of others, just as Mazalyn had done before him. The opportunity presented itself during a holiday in Jamaica when he visited the district in which he spent his early years. He was horrified to discover that after 25 years, many children in the district were still walking barefooted. Concerned that young children’s feet weren’t being protected, and remembering Mazalyn’s love of shoes, he instinctively determined to do something that would ensure girls under the age of ten had access to adequate footwear. From a passion for shoes, to the practical protection of young feet, the Her Shoes story was born.
Since its inception, Her Shoes has collected 100 pairs of shoes and will continue to build a network of family, friends and pledge partners in order to achieve its goal of distributing 5,000 pairs of new shoes over the next 10 years. Her Shoes aim is to change lives by inspiring others to give back to their communities through the gift of new shoes.
An estimated 300 million children around the world live their lives without shoes, and this makes them vulnerable to infection and a range of foot-health issues. 70 million children are unable to access suitable education because shoes are required as part of the school uniform. Her Shoes mission is to make a difference in the lives of girls under ten years old by making it possible for them to own a good pair of shoes. It will continue to improve the quality of life for young children in Jamaica, one pair at a time, one district at a time.