Why The Shoe That Grows?
Give The Shoe That Grows
Every $10 provides a pair of The Shoe That Grows and supports mission critical operations! Remove barriers to health, education and dignity for kids in Kenya.
Grows five sizes, lasts for years
The Shoe That Grows is a shoe that adjusts in four places to expand five sizes, protecting a child's feet longer than any other shoe can.
Removes a barrier to education
A pair of shoes meets immediate needs like protecting health and reducing a financial burden, making it easier for kids to pursue education.
Patented, award-winning design
2018 recipient of The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents for Humanity Award. Featured in publications including The Today Show, Buzzfeed, Smithsonian, Business Insider and more.
Made in Kenya
Since 2019, all pairs of The Shoe have been manufactured in Mombasa, Kenya—creating jobs in one of the communities where it's distributed most.
Meet our featured distribution partner.
Furaha Community Foundation is a Kenyan nonprofit based in Huruma-Mathare, Nairobi. Founded in 2005, they have grown from a home-based tutoring program into a community institution. Furaha's name means joy in Swahili. Together, we've distributed over 13,000 pairs of The Shoe That Grows.
Martha Okubo, Head of Institution, Furaha Community Centre School
"A pair of shoes is more than protection for a child’s feet.
It is a step toward confidence, dignity, health, and a brighter future. Through The Shoe That Grows, our learners walk comfortably, learn with confidence, and dream boldly. Each step reminds us that small acts of kindness make a lasting difference."
Meet all our Kenyan partners.
The impact you're making in Kenya wouldn't be possible without our partner organizations who are connected to and working within their local communities. Meet a few of the partners who are helping distribute The Shoe That Grows to the kids and families they serve.
Furaha Community Foundation
Meaning joy in Swahili, Furaha, is an apt name for this Kenyan nonprofit based in Huruma-Mathare, Nairobi. Founded in 2005, they have grown from a home-based tutoring program into a community institution.
G-BiACK
G-BiACK is dedicated to transforming lives through sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship—helping underserved people build self-reliance and restore their local ecosystems.
Ahadi Kenya Trust
Ahadi Kenya Trust pioneered anti-jigger campaigns 19 years ago, and continues to focus on jigger treatment and poverty interventions to improve the health and outcomes of children and whole communities in Kenya.
Dhamira Moja
Dhamira Moja works to provide structural and sustainable support and services to alleviate poverty and improve the standard of living, focusing on orphans, youth, women and marginalized individuals.
CIFORD Kenya
CIFORD Kenya is a community development organization focused on empowering rural communities across three counties through gender advocacy, sustainable livelihoods, and health initiatives.
Kiwimbi Kenya
Kiwimbi Kenya believes that a good education for every child is the backbone of every community’s success. They're committed to removing barriers to and furthering education.
Swahiba Networks
Swahiba works within slum and rural communities across the nation of Kenya to empower marginalized and underprivileged kids and families to participate meaningfully in society.
Learn more about The Shoe That Grows.
-
While at least a million kids in Kenya lack appropriate footwear, one 2017 study of only public school children estimated 600,000 have no shoes at all. Without protection on their feet, they are left vulnerable to soil-transmitted diseases, parasites, and injuries that can lead to infection. Your donation of The Shoe That Grows will help provide kids in rural Kenya with a pair of expanding shoes, protecting their feet for years as they grow.
-
The pairs will be distributed through our team and partners in Kenya. We are specifically focused on Busia County, a rural area on the border of Uganda in western Kenya. This is a particularly impoverished county affected by trafficking due to its proximity to the border and by high rates of jiggers and hook worm.
-
Because International’s story began in Kenya when our founder met a little girl in a white dress who was wearing shoes much too small for her feet. Inspired to create a shoe that could grow with a child, The Shoe That Grows was born. Since then, we’ve continued to work within the country through manufacturing at the Umoja Shoe Company in Mombasa and shoe distributions.
Through one of our local Kenyan partner organizations, Swahiba Networks, we learned that while at least a million kids in Kenya lack appropriate footwear, one 2017 study of only public school children estimated 600,000 have no shoes at all. No protection from hookworms, puncture wounds, sores and infection. So, given our passion for the community there and our ability to distribute pairs easily from the factory, we decided to continue working within the country that means so much to our mission and founding story. This campaign supports our commitment to reduce the number of kids in Kenya who need shoes. -
Every $10 donated funds one pair of The Shoe That Grows that we will distribute to a child and supports mission critical operations.
Join and give pairs monthly.
The Sole is a community of donors who give monthly to distribute pairs of The Shoe That Grows to kids around the world. Every $10 will send a pair.
What our members say.
Questions you might have about joining The Sole.
What is The Sole?
The Sole is Because International’s monthly giving community. It’s a group of people passionate about supporting kids and families impacted by poverty by providing The Shoe That Grows. As a member of The Sole, you’ll receive a welcome packet, quarterly reports and an annual update that share the impact your gift is making.
How are the shoes distributed?
We partner with on-the-ground organizations to identify and distribute The Shoe That Grows through schools, orphanages and other places where shoes will meet an immediate need, protect health and remove barriers to education. Funds from The Sole ensure we can fulfill urgent requests when we receive them.
Where will the shoes go?
Pairs of The Shoe That Grows that are funded through The Sole will go to areas that are impacted by crisis situations or to places where there is an immediate need for shoes to support health and educational outcomes. Recent distributions have taken place in East Africa, specifically Kenya and Malawi.
Why monthly donations?
Monthly donations are one of the most impactful ways to support the mission of Because International. Because we know that we can expect your support each month, we’re able to fulfill requests for shoes from current and new partners when the need arises at the discretion of our team members working in Africa.
More ways to give.