TOMS Shoes » ethiopia

home from ethiopia!

jshortall — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:28:28 +0000

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.

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).

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

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top ten top tens, day 7: to make you smile on a monday

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:10:19 +0000

Lucky day number 7 of the TOMS Top Ten Top 10 lists delivers the best Shoe Drop moments of 2009. From happy kids, to happy volunteers, hand placing a matched pair of TOMS on a child’s foot is a very special experience and our friends and photographers have captured some really amazing moments.

On a side note, this was the most difficult set to rank. How is one awesome Shoe Drop moment better than another awesome Shoe Drop moment? So please, take the ranking with a grain of salt. They’re all number 1’s in our book.

10. Argentina, April 2009: Have you ever seen a happier face?

9. South Africa, October 2009: Boys will be boys.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

8. Argentina, January 2009: Chief Shoe Giver is a pro at hand placing TOMS.

7. South Africa, October 2009: a Zulu dancer gives his new TOMS the ultimate test.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

6. New Orleans, April 2009: Ana Maria, who coordinates Shoe Drops for TOMS, shares a big smile with a student in New Orleans.

Photo credit: Cambria Harkey Photography

5. New Orleans, April 2009: New Orleans students jump high with their custom TOMS.

Photo credit: Cambria Harkey Photography

4. South Africa, October 2009: The proper way to conclude a Shoe Drop? PLAY!

3. New Orleans, August 2009: A TOMS intern makes new friends in NOLA.

Photo credit: Allie Dominguez

2. Ethiopia, October 2009: Whether you’re in the States or all the way in Africa, one thing remains: kids are silly!

Photo credit: Kwaku Alston

1. Beautiful girls in South Africa pose and show us how proud they are of their new TOMS in October 2009.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

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podo patients: the biggest advocates for podo prevention

jshortall — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:14:42 +0000

On a recent trip to Ethiopia, I visited a number of podo clinics doing incredible work. One of the coolest innovations I’ve seen in podo treatment is training recovered podo patients to do outreach to new patients. At one such program, I met a woman who was well on her way to recovery – her feet fit into normal-sized shoes and the disease was no longer affecting her daily life as it had before. This woman was training new podo patients on the simple washing and cleaning techniques that can bring results in a matter of months. With her was her daughter, who was no more than three years old. While watching her mother give the training, this little girl was wearing a pair of shoes that TOMS had provided.

When I asked about the girl’s shoes, the clinic director translated and her mother replied that, having lived through the suffering, isolation, and stigma that podo brings with it, she was determined to keep her daughter’s feet protected from the soil. For this woman, shoes for her child are one of the most valuable resources in the world. We find this attitude is common among podo patients who have children, grandchildren, or younger siblings. If shoes are available, these patients are committed to ensuring that the children wear those shoes and wash the soil off their feet and legs every day. However, most podo patients are so financially poor to begin with, and so further economically impacted by the disease, that purchasing shoes for themselves or their children simply is not an option.

And that’s why we do what we do. We’re making great strides in Ethiopia, and I look forward to sharing many more stories and special moments with you here on the blog!

Signing off from the front lines of the One for One movement,

Jessica

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a few new additions

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:29:53 +0000

As TOMS continues to grow, so do the number of people inspired by One for One. Our campus programs have flourished in to over 1,070 TOMS campus clubs all over the country, new desks are being filled by passionate new employees at HQ, and our inboxes, Facebook Wall, and Twitter feeds are loaded with stories from fans, customers, and friends who have been moved by One for One.

There is so much to share with you here on the TOMS blog, so you might notice a few new authors.

Each semester, we will be pulling a couple campus club members to share their experiences from the ground and this Fall, we have Harris from UNC and Michael from a high school in Maryland. We also have a great new addition to the TOMS family on the giving side, Jessica Shortall. Jessica’s role at TOMS is to head up TOMS shoe giving around the world, including lots of travel to Ethiopia and a complete obsession with podo (she dreams about it at night). She will be providing great insight into TOMS giving initiatives.

Jessica in Ethiopia

If you have a TOMS story that you would like to share, whether it be a photo of you and your TOMS at the top of a mountain, or a funny encounter with a stranger who didn’t know the One for One story, or an organization you’ve been inspired to start because of TOMS… we want to share it here on the TOMS blog. Email Ashley.Powell@TOMSshoes.com!

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sean’s trip to ethiopia

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:43:51 +0000

Sean Scott, TOMS Chief Shoe Maker (aka Product Development Leader), travels to Ethiopia to learn more about how TOMS can serve the community in providing the most appropriate shoes. These clips, from November 2008 and June 2009, follow Sean as he looses his luggage, explores new potential factories, and meets with local partners.

In case you missed the TOMS segment on the CBS Evening News last night, visit the links below to learn more about TOMS efforts in Ethiopia and Friends of TOMS support of those stricken with Podoconiosis.

Photo Gallery – Video – Article

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ready for our longest, most powerful blog ever?!?

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:10:56 +0000

Friends,

As I wait to board my flight back home after 16 days in Africa, I am consumed with emotions, children’s faces, funny memories and visions of the future. I am alone right now, but feel deeply connected to each of the volunteers, camera men and women and friends who I spent my time with the past few weeks, and I feel especially connected to each of the TOMS family members I will be returning to. I believe each of us has a mission in life, and that one cannot truly be living their most fulfilled life until they recognize this mission and dedicate their life to pursuing it. Sometimes one lasts for two weeks or two months, or possibly 20 years. I have given my life to several over the past 33 years, but none of them have resonated so deeply with my soul as the one I am currently pursuing. This mission is not singular in its track, but consists of several evolving pursuits interconnected by the TOMS movement. I would like to share each of those with you in hopes that you will continue to support me and hold me accountable in fulfilling them.

Click here to read more from Blake’s letter.

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off to ethiopia

bmycoskie — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:07:29 +0000

I’ve spent the past week attending the Clinton Global Initiative conference in NYC for the third year in a row. As with last year, I walk in to this conference with such an incredible level of respect for the individuals who participate and who are making a considerable impact on the world. But also, just as last year, my expectations are blown away. The goals that are created, and the reflections on past successes are beyond inspiring. If I could bottle an ounce of the inspiration that is brewed at this conference to give to each of you, the world would be in damn good shape in about a day. They open our eyes to the multitude of issues and challenges and hardships that drastically affect lives of all types of people. But beyond discussing the issues, this is the place where action items are created, organizations hold each other accountable, and change is realized. That’s what keeps TOMS coming back.

Met up with Jessica Alba + Cash Warren who are also doing amazing work at CGI. They’re both such wonderful people!

Today, I board a plane to another place I’m very excited about, Ethiopia. TOMS began an initiative there in 2008 providing shoes to children at risk for an awful disease called Podoconiosis. I’ve relayed to my team back at HQ how passionate I am about this initiative, and I could barely sleep last night knowing that in less that 24 hours, I will be able to experience our work there with my own 5 senses. The coming weeks will be spent far away from marketing meetings, emails and rigorous schedules, and close to the need, the disease and the people.

As much as I’m looking forward to the experiences and education over the next month, I’m also looking forward to my return and sharing these things with all of you.

Signing off, and Carpe Diem.

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happy birthday, TOMS – 3 years today!

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:15:53 +0000

Over the past three years year, TOMS has given close to 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world thanks to our caring customers. Because of you, we have been able to bring attention to the need for shoes to over 4% of the world’s population.

Since Ben Katz first purchased TOMS on May 5, 2006
Customers have continued to impact the lives of children around the world
Our staff has grown from 1 to 41
We’ve been privileged to work with the over 600 of the best interns a company could ever hope for
Countless generous people opened their homes to host the Vagabonds
TOMS work in Ethiopia has already helped over 15,000 children
This year alone, over 47,000 worldwide participated in One Day Without Shoes
TOMS has hosted domestic Shoe Drops in Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana as well as abroad

Celebrate and get involved:

1. Wear your TOMS May 5 and share our story
2. Volunteer in your community
3. Post your volunteer photos and videos to Facebook, YouTube, or MySpace
4. Show kindness to everyone you meet…even if its a simple smile!

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from a friend of toms

admin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:36:32 +0000

We just returned from picking up our 7 yr old son from Ethiopia. I
took this picture while walking down a road there.

Carole Turner

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did we reach our goal?!

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:25:24 +0000

The past 30 days have been a whirl-wind. In addition to the expected Holiday rush that commences after Thanksgiving, things were particularly busy at the TOMS HQ.

30,000 pairs of shoes in 30 days…. can we do it?!

Christmas has now snuck up on us, and the 30 day deadline we set for ourselves has ended. And now you’re starting to ask us, “I shared your video, I bought a pair of shoes, I posted the campaign on my blog… SO DID WE REACH THE GOAL??”

Yes we did.

Did we go ABOVE AND BEYOND the goal?
YES.

We hit 37,000, amigos. THATS PRETTY COOL.
We united, we had a mission, and we blasted through the finish line.

Thank you to all of you who helped us in every little way. 30,000 pairs of shoes will be given to children in Ethiopia on your behalf.

Happy Holidays, see ya in the new year!

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