The Gift of Shoes​The ground in the settlement of Basti was a relentless enemy. It was baked hard by the summer sun, scattered with sharp shale and broken glass, and, for Kian, a constant source of pain. At nine years old, Kian had never owned a pair of shoes that lasted more than a month; his current footwear was only the tough, cracked soles of his feet. He had learned to walk with a practiced, careful gait, knowing exactly where to step and where to avoid.​One scorching Tuesday, Kian was carefully making his way back from the community water pump