TOMS Shoes header image 4

home from ethiopia!

January 25th, 2010 by jshortall

Three of our staff – Andrew, Alejo, and I – just got back from a week in Ethiopia, finding exciting new ways to increase our giving there. In addition to participating in Timkat, one of Ethiopia’s biggest holidays (where Andrew and Alejo wore matching Ethiopian shirts and I got blessed/sprayed in the face by a priest holding a water hose), we hit the road and headed to a little village called Yetebon, about 3 hours south of the capital of Addis Ababa.

Some memorable Yetebon/TOMS moments:

1. Meeting volunteer Kayla, who was living in Yetebon and wearing her burlap TOMS  every day.

TOMS in Yetebon village

2. Alejo deciding to ride on the top of our van for about 5 miles. You can see his trusty TOMS hanging over the side (these were taken by the less adventurous people inside the van).

IMG_1329

We love Ethiopia! Such a beautiful country filled with warm and welcoming people. Can’t wait to go back!

Related posts:

  1. sean’s trip to ethiopia Sean Scott, TOMS Chief Shoe Maker (aka Product Development Leader),...
  2. off to ethiopia I’ve spent the past week attending the Clinton Global Initiative...
  3. u of a educates students on podo and “why ethiopia?” This past week, the TOMS Campus Club at U of...
  4. a few new additions As TOMS continues to grow, so do the number of...
  5. giving in argentina Argentina is where it all began. You’ve seen the YouTube...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags:   · · · · · ·
Categories: The Giving Side2 Comments

Leave A Comment

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 doan Jan 25, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    wow, love the pics, and shoes!.
    thanks for giving us an update of how u guys are helping out others.
    it’s amazing and i lve toms!
    im so excited to meet blake in february, he’s coming to chapman university. tomshoes.blogspot.com

  • 2 Lorraine Cange Feb 3, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    KAYLA’S MY DAUGHTER!!!! She was thrilled to see the TOMS crew visit Project Mercy while she was there donning her favorite TOMS! She & I are both dedicated ONE FOR ONE supporters. And we will both continue to spread the word about TOMS.
    God bless TOMS!