Why The Shoe That Grows?
Donate a pair today.
Every $10 gift will send a pair of The Shoe That Grows to a child in rural Kenya, meeting an immediate need and removing a barrier to education.
Grows five sizes, lasts for years
The Shoe That Grows is a shoe that adjusts in seven 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 health and finance—and, in doing so, makes it easier for a child to continue their 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 its distributed most.
Meet our Busia County distribution partner.
Kiwimbi is an NGO that believes in opportunity through education and is focused on partnering with underserved communities in Kenya. Kiwimbi will distribute The Shoe That Grows to school-aged kids in Busia County, located in Western Kenya.
Catherine Malalah, General Manager, Kiwimbi Kenya
"At Kiwimbi, we believe a good education for every child is the backbone of each community's success.
In Busia, we live among livestock and poultry, which expose us to the danger of jiggers and hookworm infection. Most homes do not have access to flushable toilets and instead have pit latrines which increases the danger of infection with bare feet. All children walk long distances to and from school—chances of injury are high. When girls especially don’t have shoes or get injured, they tend to go back home."
Protect feet
From parasites and disease
Build confidence
And improve self-esteem
Remove barriers
To help kids attend school
Elevate communities
Through health and education
Learn more about The Shoe That Grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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The pairs will be distributed through our partners who are working with communities throughout Kenya, with a focus on rural Kenya.
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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 our partnership with local Kenyan organization 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. -
100%. For every $20 you donate, we will distribute one pair of The Shoe That Grows to a child.