For her Mitzvah project, seventh grader Bri raised funds to distribute 174 pairs of The Shoe That Grows at two children’s homes in Kenya.
After reading a book in the sixth grade called A Long Walk to Water about kids in Sudan who must walk long distances without shoes, Bri was inspired to do something to help. She talked about this book with her family friend Akoy Agau, who is a player on the South Sudan national basketball team. Akoy then connected Bri with Because International so that she could channel her concern into something tangible to help kids around the world who, without shoes, are at risk for many soil-transmitted diseases.
Bri created a fundraising page, and she and her dad, Eric, booked two tickets to Kenya, where they would join Akoy during his team’s basketball tournament in Nairobi. They then planned to meet up with Japheth Opondo, Because International’s East Africa distribution partner, to distribute the pairs at two children’s homes.
During the months leading up to the trip, Bri worked hard to raise the needed funds. She connected with friends and community members and even went door-to-door in her neighborhood. Bri met her goal, and then doubled it!
On the trip, Bri and her dad spent two days distributing shoes in two locations, Future Stars Development Center and Victors Children’s Home. The South Sudan national basketball team joined them to distribute the shoes.
Bri helped kids of all ages put the shoes on. “It was really cool to see how their face lit up,” she says, “because to me a pair of shoes is ‘okay, thank you, I like them,’ but to them it was an opportunity.”
A month later, Bri was still reflecting on the trip. It was her first time traveling to a different country, and she was surprised by what she had learned.
Bri was driven by a passion to help others and turned that passion into action. “It took a lot of thought so I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to just raise money,” she says. “You have to hand the shoes out to really have an idea of your [impact].”
If you are fundraising to distribute The Shoe That Grows, Bri has words of encouragement for you. “Know that you shouldn’t be afraid—people will realize how good of a project it is! If they’re truly good people they will help you. You will meet your goal.”
Become a member of The Sole to join people like Bri in getting The Shoe That Grows to kids and families around the world.
