The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows came from being around 140 HIV/AIDS orphans at the Motherly Care Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya and seeing how none of the kids had shoes that fit. The idea turned into a burning passion that has culminated in The Shoe That Grows. This adjustable shoe goes from a size 5 to a size 12 and can last up to 10 years. This means that anytime a child is in school – they will always have a pair of shoes that fit. And they can be more healthy, happy, and ready for the future.
CURRENT STATUS: Because International has recently unveiled the official prototype of The Shoe That Grows. With your amazing help, we have raised more than enough to complete the prototype phase and move into first production and testing. This summer, 2013, the first batch of shoes will be distributed to children in Nairobi, Kenya.
Early Prototype Photos:
WHY: In the current model of humanitarian aid for kids without any shoes, here is how it works. There are kids without any shoes. A nonprofit organization or government organization gives them a handout of a pair of shoes. But they are kids; their feet grow all the time. So about a year later, the shoes no longer fit the kids' feet. Now what does the child do? Either wear shoes that do not fit. Try to alter the shoes so that they can fit a little bit for the next few months. Or just go barefoot. No matter what happens - it is an unfortunate situation for these kids.
HOW: And that is where Because International comes in. We believe that The Shoe That Grows is a creative improvement on this situation. The Shoe That Grows is an expandable shoe that kids can adjust to fit their feet. It can go from a size 5 to a size 12. It adjusts in length, width, and overall shape. For any child in school - from 1st grade to 12th grade - they can always have a pair of shoes that fit.
WHAT: And that is the beauty of The Shoe That Grows. When kids do not have shoes or do not have shoes that fit, they are going to have problems. Their feet can be effected negatively if they are wearing shoes that do not fit. And if they do not have shoes, then their overall health can be negatively impacted. They can get worms, parasites, and many other diseases. This all happens when kids do not have shoes or shoes that fit properly. The Shoe That Grows takes away these problems. And it takes away the worries that kids have when they do not have shoes. In a busy, complicated, difficult life for many of these kids - The Shoe That Grows will allow them to cross at least one thing off of their list because they can always have a shoe that fits.