I realize it is now day 4, but I fell asleep while researching what to post here.
What I wanted to do was give you an idea what you are preventing by getting these shoes on the feet of children in developing countries. I'm not posting pictures, because they're gross, and I don't want to keep you from sharing this information and spreading the word.
Now you might think that the only issue with these kids not having shoes is that they can injure their foot. While that is true, and the injury would most likely not heal well because they still wouldn't have shoes and so now you have a kid running around with an open wound on their foot probably only covered with a cloth bandage at best. Following that is infection, that would quickly become severe because these children do not have easy access to medical care and antibiotics.
But the other side of this that is much less obvious are the infections and parasites that enter the body through bare feet. These parasites are everywhere in contaminated soil and water, and there is no way of preventing them EXCEPT getting shoes on these kids.
Another condition that is preventable ONLY through wearing shoes is Podoconiosis, which is a type of elephantiasis. This disease begins when pieces of silica enter the bottom of the foot and eventually causes massive swelling to the feet and lower legs. This is not a parasite, or a virus, but just a part of the soil itself, and something as simple as a pair of shoes that will last longer than a few months is the only preventative measure.
Another affect of these kids not having shoes is that for many that means that they can not attend school. As with many places in the world it is NO SHOES=NO SERVICE. Now if a kids has the opportunity, because they actually have a school they can attend with in range of their home, and the ability, because they do not have to spend their day working with their parents or caretakers to maintain their home, collect food or water, or do the myriad other tasks needed to keep their family alive, but they can’t go because they don’t have shoes to wear. That is INSANE to me. I am a person who found solace in education and it breaks my heart that only a pair of shoes stands in the way of these kids getting a basic education. We’re not talking higher learning, or even a high school level education. It’s preventing these kids from even getting and Elementary level education. It’s preventing them from learning to read and write, which is a basic ability they we take completely for granted. And is an ability that could open SO many doors for them.
Please remember that this is not just to bring awareness, but is also to raise money. Please visit my fundraising site and make a donation. https://fundraise.theshoethatgrows.org/wearandcare
