Every year, Because International puts out an annual report. You know the kind—numbers, financials, a list of supporters. Standard nonprofit stuff, including numbers, financials, and some stories highlighting our work. We've done it every year.

This year, we did something different. We published an impact report. The standard stuff is still in there, but the additional changes were intentional. 

It's not just a rename. It matters! And as the person whose job it is to think about impact all day, I want to tell you why.

A lot happened in 2025. We more than doubled our distributions—43,793 pairs of shoes in 2024, then 103,548 pairs across 28 countries in 2025. The new version of The Shoe That Grows went from concept to full production. Our Kenya team grew—more partners, better processes, more distributions happening more effectively than ever before.

But here's the thing. In past years, we told you how many shoes we distributed. We even told you stories of distributions and kids in their communities. What we couldn't always tell you was what those shoes did. That's what we've been working to change, and this report is the first real proof of that shift.

In 2025, we focused our Kenya distributions on Busia County—one of the poorest counties in the country, right on the border with Uganda. And we asked a lot of questions. We gathered our data and found that the statistics supported the stories we were hearing on the ground.

• 82% of students reported that they or someone they know has recently had jiggers or another foot-related parasitic infection. 

• 83% had experienced a foot injury from walking barefoot in the past six months. Nearly 90% worry "a lot" about not having shoes. 

• 98% of teachers said it's common for families to struggle to meet their kids' basic needs.

But these aren’t just statistics. The numbers represent real students, like Damaris, who is 14 and wants to be a lawyer. She used to be afraid of getting diseases walking 30 minutes to school barefoot. And Boniface, who is 5, and who received his first-ever pair of shoes and said, "I am excited to wear my shoes! I want to play soccer with them on." These stats represent the students Teacher Kevin works with, who told us, “When the learners come to us, we increase their self-confidence. When they are well dressed with a uniform and shoes, they are proud and come to school.”

That's what 103,548 pairs of shoes look like up close.

The Shoe That Grows creates impact by protecting feet, alleviating financial burdens and contributing to positive self-esteem. In doing so, The Shoe That Grows removes barriers that help give children access to education, and does so longer than any other footwear solution. 

The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a UN framework that measures poverty not just by income, but across three dimensions: Education, Health, and Standard of Living. This gives us the framework to see how the direct impact of a shoe on a child's foot plays a role in the global mission to alleviate poverty.

Our impact report also highlights the work of the entrepreneurs we supported through the Because Fellowship in 2025. Using the MPI as a guide, you can see how the impact they are creating in their own communities points toward Education, Health and Standard of Living outcomes in Kenya and beyond. 

• Over a million sanitary pads distributed, keeping girls in school in Kenya. 

• 1,585,000 individuals given access to safe water in Uganda. 

• Kids' wheelchairs distributed in Ethiopia. 

• Clean cooking stoves that reduce smoke and save money for families across Uganda and Kenya. 

We've come a long way. I hope you'll read it.

April Impact Dashboard