Over 40,000 pairs of TOMS Shoes just arrived in Malawi!

Goods for Good and TOMS Shoes have teamed up for the second year in a row to provide new shoes for over 40,000 schoolchildren in Malawi.  Last year, TOMS and Goods for Good kicked of our partnership by coordinating the targeted distribution of 40,000 shoes–one pair for each vulnerable child supported by our partner community-based organizations. And this year, we’re doing it all again, expanding support to 10,000 more children under the age of five.

Sadly, shoes are a luxury for children in Malawi, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children who lack the resources to purchase them. Walking barefoot puts these children at high risk for injury and infections such as hookworm, which can cause anemia, diarrhea and stunted mental development if left untreated. For the children who have no one to provide for them or monitor their health, the repercussions are far-reaching: impaired learning, increased absences from school and decreased future economic productivity are all serious concerns. By working hand-in-hand with local grassroots organizations, we are able to reach the children who need assistance most. While not every child will be taken to a clinic if they become sick, most every child will show up on distribution day to receive what is likely their first pair of new shoes.

This year’s shipment of TOMS shoes is expected to arrive in Malawi this weekend and distributions will take place in the next two weeks. Stay tuned for pictures…

Thank you to TOMS Shoes for their continued commitment to Goods for Good’s mission of providing a better future for Malawi’s orphans and vulnerable children.

To learn more visit www.goods4good.org