UA News

The UA chapter of Students In Free Enterprise has partnered with TOMS Shoes to collect 1,500 shoes for children in Ethiopia.

Buying a pair of shoes can lead to another pair going to a child in Ethiopia, providing a basic necessity in life to help prevent that child from developing podoconiosis.

That is the premise behind "UofA Gives Back," a University of Arizona student-run campaign currently underway. 

UA's Students In Free Enterprise partnered with TOMS Shoes, a nonprofit organization that provides shoes to children in developing countries, to launch a three-month campaign to sell 1,500 pairs of shoes so that they can, in turn, provide the same number to children in Ethiopia.

The "UofA Gives Back" project started in the beginning of September and will end in December.

TOMS Shoes, founded in 2006 by American Blake Mycoskie, gives a pair of shoes to a child for each pair sold. By providing shoes to the children, the organization hopes to prevent podpconiosis, a form of elephantitis, as well as educating the Tucson and UA communities about the disease.

"Once you wear them on your feet, it's a story," said Maddi Reynolds, the project manager for the TOMS Shoes project at the UA and general member of the University's chapter of SIFE, a nonprofit international organization.

"People use to ask me all the time, 'What are those, ninja shoes?' It's an opportunity to tell people about Podo and for them to get involved, too," said Reynolds, a junior studying retailing and consumer sciences. 

Highlights of the campaign have included the "BAREFOODWALK," which was hosted by musical groups Hanson and Hello Goodbye. Also, nearly 20 local artists designed customized shoes for newly purchased TOMS shoes. 

SIFE works with leaders in business and education to encourage students to get involved with their communities and develop socially responsible business skills.

The student organization also has plans to go into high schools in Tucson to teach students about what goes into making TOMS shoes, such as where the thread and sole comes from and where the shoes have to go before the get to the buyer.

This is meant to teach students about where their clothes come from so they realize that there is a whole set of steps that have to get meet before they end up in stores, Reynolds said.

But why give shoes? Because wearing shoes is a simple and effective why of preventing podoconiosis.

Podpconiosis, or podo, is an extremely painful and debilitating disease caused by walking barefoot on silica rich soil, TOMS Shoes reports. People with podo experience painful swelling of the legs and feet, sometimes to four times in size, deformation and ulcers, the organization also reports.

"Podoconiosis in Ethiopia has already affected over 1 million people and that is 100 percent preventable by wearing shoes," said Natalie Nelson, a SIFE member and UA junior studying marketing. 

TOMS Shoes also noted that in parts of the world where podo is common, people with the condition also face social stigma and exclusion from their communities. Children are especially vulnerable and in Ethiopia there are about 1 million sufferers.

No shots, medication or vaccinations are needed to prevent podo; the simple act of wearing shoes is enough to completely prevent the diseases.

There is still time for the campus community to contribute and get involved in the "UofA Gives Back" campaign. 

TOMS shoes are on sale at the UA BookStore and on the TOMS Shoes Web site. When making a purchase online, use the promo code, "UOFA," to get a $5 discount on the purchase of shoes, and to ensure that the purchase counts toward the UA campaign.

Other ways to get involved are hosting your own "Style Your Sole" party or by participating in the "One Day Without Shoes" event, which will be held April 8. That day, people are encouraged to go barefoot for one day, to stay informed about what TOMS is doing and help to spread awareness of its cause.