Summer came and I needed new shoes. But which one? There are many manufactures and idents. I like these and these and these ... or these? I found them! TOMS have beautiful artist shoes exactly for me. And if I purchase them I buy shoes for one child in need too! That is GREAT idea.
"TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about. The TOMS One for One business model transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support."
Why shoes?
Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
- A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
- Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
- Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.
Source: TOMS shoes website
Last week, 33,333 new pairs of TOMS shoes arrived for children in Haiti (Port-au-Prince). Many of the shoes were distributed to orphans, school children, and the children of people who are receiving care for injuries sustained during the recent earthquake.
In March 2010, TOMS traveled to Rwanda and gave 1,000 pairs of shoes to beautiful children. There was Kris Allen - last year's American Idol winner and he sang and played guitar with the kids, inspiring them to laugh, smile, and dance. Many of these children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and many come from families still feeling the effects of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. There is a video:
And finally... This is my new shoes
What do you think? You like it? So buy it too ,)
Good to know the shoes are new, because something (un)similar goes on in field of electronic devices: for each new TV, cellular or computer you buy, one goes to Africa or China - just old and broken.
Great initiative
It shows you that helping doesn’t have to be complicated - take a simple idea and run with it. I think I’ll take a look.
I really disagree. I’ve heard that non-shoe wearing is a cultural thing. Traditionally kids don’t wear shoes whether they have them or not. Furthermore, if you’re at risk of starvation, I don’t think footwear would be high on your list of priorities.
My fear with a program like this is that it will display the local shoe-makers. They can’t compete with freebies and supporters may inadvertently be putting poor business-people out of their livelihoods.
I don’t mean to be critical, but I just want to make sure that we’re not doing more harm than good.
Clare: Really? I don’t know that. This is just cultural thing in some countries. Not Rwanda or Haiti?
@ Jan: Yes, in some cutlures, people just don’t wear shoes. I think it has something to be with staying in touch with the earth etc.
Generally though, shoe donations are hugely wasteful and inefficient. I blogged on it earlier here: http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/the_celebrity_recolonization_of_africa_and_a_shoe_rant