Activist and model Grace Wanene founded Drawing Dreams Initiative in 2016 to address social issues faced by children in rural Kenyan communities. Earlier this year, the youth-led organization distributed 350 pairs of The Shoe That Grows to K-8 students in Laikipia County, Kenya.
Grace helps a student in Laikipia County adjust a pair of The Shoe That Grows. Photo courtesy of OTC Photography.
Grace first discovered her passion for leadership and social justice through modeling. “Growing up, I was very timid and kind of shy, but I always knew that I had lots of leadership skills and desires embedded in me. I didn’t have mentors or even other young people to look up to. I promised myself that I would eventually do something about it.” Grace taught herself how to model by watching YouTube videos and went on to win several modeling titles, eventually representing Kenya in a Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines.
“All these ventures expanded my network and gave me a good platform to understand many underlying social issues and challenges experienced by young people in my country. That's how Drawing Dreams was born.”
Drawing Dreams focuses on two key programs: (1) menstrual health & hygiene management, and (2) life skills empowerment. “When talking about menstrual health and hygiene, we also cover general topics on hygiene for both boys and girls.” Grace explains, “You can imagine down in rural Kenya—scorching heat, acacia thorns and, even worse, maggots at the pit latrines the kids have to use.”
“The smiles on their faces can show you how happy they are,” Grace shares. Photo courtesy of OTC Photography.
The initiative wanted to help kids protect their feet from these elements, but they rely on contributions to make their work possible. “I was so glad when a friend came in and made a donation for us to get the shoes to kids this year,” Grace shares.
After a successful pilot distribution of 30 pairs in 2019, the donor provided 350 more pairs of The Shoe to distribute in 2021. Looking back on this recent distribution at the school, Grace reflects, “What stood out for me was the joy of acquiring a new pair of shoes.” She adds, “One of the local guys who runs a children’s home in the nearby village attested that it was a brilliant surprise for him when the kids came home from school—with limited resources he had been wondering how to get them shoes.”
By protecting health for students with The Shoe That Grows, Grace reaffirms the belief with which she started Drawing Dreams Initiative: “that any young person should be given the opportunity and chance to ‘draw their own dreams,’ become better persons and diligent international citizens.”
You can support more distributions of The Shoe That Grows by becoming a member of The Sole, a monthly subscription service where shoes are distributed on your behalf.
