How one pair of shoes can make a difference

Come on girls; admit it – you love a new pair of shoes! How many pairs do you have in your hiding wardrobe?

But what if shoes were a luxury you couldn’t afford?

TOMS is a shoes company with a difference; with every pair you purchase, TOMS give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Since 2006, TOMS have given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need across the world.

Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren’t possible barefoot.

Being barefoot all the time increases children’s risks of getting cuts and sores which can lead to pain and infection from contaminated soil. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.

In addition, many 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.

There is one simple solution…SHOES.

Of the planet’s six billion people, four billion live in conditions of poverty and injustice. Buying your next pair of shoes from TOMS could make all the difference to one child. Next time you think you don’t have the right shoes for your outfit, think of the billions of people worldwide who don’t have any shoes at all …