Helping Belizean kids get to school through The Shoe That Grows
Read how 210 kids and teachers in Belize now have a pair of shoes, protecting their access to education for years to come.
Accelerator alumnus distributes shoes
Denis Ndayizeye first learned about The Shoe That Grows while taking part in the Fall 2021 Because Accelerator. Shortly after completing the program, he reached out to the Because team to arrange a shoe distribution within his community in Burundi, Africa.
ABOUT BURUNDI, AFRICA
A child in Burundi is fitted with a new pair of The Shoe That Grows
Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been greatly impacted by an ethnic-based civil war that began in 1993 and ended in 2006. In the years following, the country’s rural communities have continued to struggle with high rates of poverty, food insecurity, child malnutrition, lack of access to water and more.
Denis, who grew up in Burundi experiencing some of the same issues facing the community today, is working to prevent gender-based violence and school drop-out rates through his nonprofit, ILOFEM Burundi. As part of the mission, Denis organized a distribution of 350 pairs of shoes to children living in the province of Bubanza, an area he selected due to the high rates of early marriage, children on the streets, and infections from jigger bites—all of which have led to an inordinate number of school dropouts.
DISTRIBUTING THE SHOE THAT GROWS IN BURUNDI
On June 10, 2022, Denis and his team came along Gahwazi Foundation School board members to distribute the shoes.
“We selected children from very poor families–children with disabilities, children who are head of households, girls who reintegrated in schools after early or unplanned pregnancies, etc,” explained Denis. “50 percent of these children didn’t have any form of shoes.”
By providing these children with pairs of The Shoe That Grows, they can be safe from jiggers and have a safe method of getting to school for several years.
“The involvement of the school staff and board showed us how important and appreciated it was,” reflected Denis. “The children prepared a sketch showcasing how the lack of shoes is a danger to little children walking to school and while playing. They emphasized the fact that there are many school dropouts, early marriages and pregnancies due to the lack of the basic needs for a good schooling process–including a lack of shoes.”
After the shoe distribution and sketches, the school had also organized dances, speeches, and more. This community engagement further emphasized the impact that a single pair of shoes can bring–not only in providing a child with “a safer and uninterrupted educational journey, but it can also reduce the burden on families and prevent conflicts,” said Denis. “One shoe can save a thousand lives!”
This distribution was made possible by The Sole, a giving club in which members donate pairs of shoes every month. Join The Sole to help more communities like Denis’.
