Why Shoes Exactly?

The lovely wikipedia provided me with this information on why Blake Mycoskie choose to give shoes (link). Although I already sort of know from producing posts previous to this, here explains in more detail exactly why they are a good idea.

"After his visit to Argentine in 2006, Mycoskie decided to get involved in shoe giving. Considering sustainability, he concluded that starting a business rather than a charity would help his impact last longer. In his speech at the Second Annual Clinton Global Initiative, Mycoskie recalled that children without shoes were not only susceptible to health risks, but were not allowed to go to school. When asked 'Why shoes?' Mycoskie's main reason is a disease called podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease. Also known as 'Mossy Foot', Podoconiosis is a form of elephantiasis that affects the lymphatic system of the lower legs. It is a soil-transmitted disease caused by walking in silica-rich soil. This causes one's feet to swell along with many other health implications. Shoes are the most basic solution to many of those health risks. According to the TOMS Shoes website, there are over one billion people at risk for soil-transmitted diseases around the world, and shoes can help prevent them. Mycoskie emphasises that his company's goal is to not only give shoes, but to also educate others on the importance of wearing shoes."

I went on to the TOMS official website, where they have a section explaining 'why shoes', and this says:

"Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk"

• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they are also dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realise their potential."

Whilst on a website I found this image that explains why shoes would benefit Maria in Guatemala.

It explains how "With additional protection from illness and infection, Maria can spend more days helping her family and building her potential in school". 

There was also this on the same website, explaining a little about the disease that is mentioned in the Wikipedia section.

What is Podoconiosis, and what does it look like?

I began looking for more information on the disease which is mentioned in the image above and Wikipedia section I found that can be caused by not wearing shoes. I started by looking on google images to see what peoples feet could look like if they were exposed to it (link).

I looked on Google for a proper definition of the disease to get to know more about it, and the first thing I read was this (below). I found it a little challenging to read first off and once I had done I didn't really feel like I had fully grasped what it was saying although it does contain a lot of information. (link)

"Podoconiosis ('dust in the feet') presents as bilateral asymmetrical swelling of the feet and lower legs. It is seen in susceptible families of bare-footed farmers in well-defined fertile volcanic highland zones of Africa, Central and South America, and Indonesia, and also in the lowlands irrigated by rivers from these highlands. It is due to the absorption of silica particles from the soil, through the feet of someone from a susceptible family. This causes the patient's lymphatics to fibrose, and obstruct, and his fermoral nodes to enlarge. This in turn makes his legs and feet swell, and progress through stages which are described as 'water bag', 'rubbery', and 'wooden'. Finally, his leg becomes hyperkeratotic, 'mossy', and nodular. Lymph may ooze through his skin, which may become secondarily infected by fungi or bacteria. The disease may progress steadily, or there may be a succession of acute episodes which resolve incompletely. Villagers in endemic areas are often able to recognise the early stages."

I continued looking on various other website for a bit simpler explanation of the disease to help me understand it more. I think because this is the first time I have heard about the disease I want to get a full grasp on it to fully understand the 'main reason' for 'why shoes'. I found this website (link) which explains things a little easier:

"Podoconiosis (often called Elephantiases disease) symptoms cause pain, sores, swelling, growths, cracking, and a pair of shoes could have prevented it in the first place.

Podoconiosis (from Greek 'podos,' a foot; and 'konia, 'dust') is a geochemical disease associated with crystalline blockage of the lymphatics, microcrystal disease, mossy food, nonfilarial elephantiasis or lymphatic verrucosis. What does all that mean? Podoconiosos (podo) is a disease that usually affects the lower legs and feet and it's from the very ground the affected people walk on. Podo victims live in places of high altitudes (over 1000 meters above sea level) and they wear no shoes, being poor farmers in the neighbourhoods of volcanoes (whether active or not), where red clay soil and high alkalic content is the norm."


On the Giving Report (link) that TOMS released in fall 2010 which featured in an issue of Good magazine, they had a section named 'why shoes?', and in it explains a little about the Podoconiosis disease:

"Podoconiosis: Causes swelling of the feet and legs due to prolonged exposure to certain types of irritant soil."


They also explain about a few other diseases that can be caused by not wearing shoes, and 'these are just a few', as they have stated. I also found a picture for an example of the disease.

"Hookworm: Causes anemia, stunted physical and mental development, and on occasion, congestive heart failure. Affects up to 1/5 world population."

"Jiggers: Causes severe itching and hives from bites from small mite-like organisms around the feet and ankles."

"Tetanus: Potentially fatal infectious disease caused by bacteria entering the body through cuts or open wounds. Causes painful muscle spasms and locked jaw."