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A multitude of barriers to education mean that, as we start the new academic year, it is estimated that there are still over half a million out-of-school children in Ghana1. Although primary education is supposed to be free to all Ghana�s children, it is a sad fact that there are many parents who feel they cannot afford to send their children to school. Compulsory books, uniforms, bags and shoes are unavoidable expenses, whilst many schools continue to charge fees for extra classes and core activities. When local public schools lack infrastructure, children are forced to walk long distances to attend school. In some communities children lack good role models for education, and are encouraged to work instead of learning. Today Challenging Heights is seeking to break down one of these barriers by commencing distribution of over 40,000 free TOMS2 shoes to all public school enrolled children across four districts. We know that not having proper shoes is a disincentive for children to attend school, both practical and psychological. At the launch today the Effutu Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Hilda Eghan, of Ghana Education Services, presented the first shoes to children at Methodist Primary A/B and C/D Schools in Winneba. She acknowledged that some children walked to school barefoot, or came embarrassed by inappropriate or inadequate footwear, and commended Challenging Heights for arranging for so many shoes to be given to those in need. She said parents should be excited by the distribution and encouraged them use whatever money they had saved for shoes to support other aspects of their children�s education. Providing education for children in Ghana is a collective responsibility, and everyone � parents, schools, Education authorities and Government � must play their part. We ask ministers and municipalities to ensure that adequate funds reach public schools in a timely manner so that they can provide genuinely free quality education to all of Ghana�s children. We look to teachers and schools to provide a welcoming and conducive environment, free of fear of violence, where children are inspired to learn. We entreat all parents in Ghana to send their children to school. Every parent wishes the best for their children, and we believe that the best legacy that they can give their children is a good education in its various forms. The current trend indicates that more girls are in school than boys, and we believe it is important parents commit to sending both boys and girls to school equally. This way Ghana can achieve both the universal primary education and gender equality goal of the Millennium Development Goals. Challenging Heights is a Ghanaian NGO that promotes youth and family empowerment and children�s rights to education and freedom from forced labour in Ghana. Challenging Heights delivers social justice interventions to underserved communities with programmes that include the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children who have been trafficked to Lake Volta to work in the fishing industry. Challenging Heights also runs a number of community awareness and economic empowerment programmes in order to prevent trafficking and re-trafficking of children. Over the past 10 years Challenging Heights has supported over 10,000 children and young people in Ghana, including approximately 1,200 children rescued from child trafficking in the fishing industries of Ghana. All these 2children were enrolled in school and provided with basic educational materials such as shoes, a school bag, uniform and pencils, while their families were assisted with income-generating opportunities to enable them to support their children and sustain them in school.