Although many people look primarily for performance,  style, and comfort in our shoes, our footwear also serves important protective purposes. Not wearing shoes leaves children and adults in various parts of Africa including Uganda vulnerable to some debilitating diseases and infections.

Podoconiosis

Podoconiosis is a disease that develops through walking barefoot on volcanic soil for years at a time. It causes the legs, feet, and toes to swell and can leave sufferers unable to walk. It also causes the skin to thicken and split, which leads to ulcers and infections. This disease is as stigmatised as it is prevalent in African societies; it also interferes with the ability of children to go to school .

Podoconiosis can be prevented by washing soil off of the feet or by wearing shoes. However, it’s difficult to reach clean water sources for washing in some communities, and shoes may be unaffordable for many. A 10 Pound or 10 Euros or 10 Dollars donation can buy a good pair of shoes . Please give generously.

The importance of shoes

There are a lot of basic needs that children go without on a daily basis – something we understand all too well. Providing basic necessities, like clothing, food, hygiene items, and educational support, to kids is the foundation of our sponsorship program, and we believe that each and every one of these aspects is incredibly important in helping children have a greater chance to succeed in life. So why did Mr. Hynes want to focus in particular on getting shoes to kids in need?

“Over the years, we have heard many heartbreaking stories about children who are unable to attend school because they don’t have wearable shoes.”

“Over the years, we have heard many heartbreaking stories about children who are unable to attend school because they don’t have wearable shoes,” says Mr. Hynes. “In some cases, children attend school only every other day because they have to share a single pair of shoes with a sibling. We have always made a point of providing good, solid shoes to these children, knowing that shoes can be very expensive.