Outstanding psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi died on October 20, 2021. Surprisingly, the story told by Shoe Project participant Irina Umnova is directly related to the meeting with this incredible scientist and man. In memory of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, we publish this story.     6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Irina Umnova Toronto, George Ignatieff Theatre, March…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Iman Al-Jarsha Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020     In the big, silent room I could hear my breathing. My sons Omar and Zaid were frozen in fear.  Their eyes looked at me, asking, “Are we safe? Is our journey over? Is our dream coming true?” We…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Venera Loshaj-Balaj Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020     During the war in Kosova, we were forced to leave home and become refugees in Montenegro. After a few months, money ran low for food and rent. There was no hope that the war would end soon. We…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Jing Cheng Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020   A young university student ends up in a dorm with the four “Pink Girls.” She tries to escape their bullying but only succeeds when she reconnects with a pair of old friends.     My university dorm roommates were…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Shaima Badry Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020   An eight-year-old girl takes an epic journey in a convoy of people fleeing the army of Saddam Hussein.     There was knocking at the door. It was our neighbour. “You have to leave, sir!” “No!” said my father.…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Ambika Thambu Toronto, The George Ignatieff Theatre, March 2020     These are my new brown Bata slippers, but today I will be presenting to you about my very first pair of brown Bata slippers. There are many things that play a significant role in our daily lives. Furthermore,…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Lidiane Barreta Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020     When I was leaving for Canada, my grandmother hugged me and gave me her blessing. She was so beautiful and healthy. I’m the first granddaughter of 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, so we had always been very close.…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Gurpreet Nain Toronto, The George Ignatieff Theatre, March 2020     On one of my walks beside the Credit River, I stood on a bridge looking into the water flowing beneath. I saw a couple of salmon furiously flipping their fins. They had left the calmer waters of their…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Valentina Ernst-Diaz Vancouver, The BMO Theatre Centre, January 2020     A new LGBTQ2+ immigrant comes to Canada in search of freedom. Yet when she goes to rent an apartment, she discovers she has brought her old fears to a new home.   I ring the buzzer and wait…

6 Minutes with The Shoe Project Vathsala Aswathaman Toronto, George Ignatieff Theatre, March 2020     A new world, new life, new career, new country, new people, and new shoes. Everything was new to me. I still look back on all the happy changes in my life and the journey that made me the person…