They’re just one of the many things that can plague a child without shoes, but they’re a big one. Some pretty amazing stats, from the World Health Organization and some of our field partners:

• 400 million children are infected or at risk of being infected with “soil-transmitted helminths” – worms in the soil that can enter the body through the soles of bare feet.
• An additional 200 million people worldwide (adults and children) are infected with schistosomiasis, which comes from another type of worm – shoes can play a big prevention role with “schisto”, too.
• If a child has enough worms in her body, they will stunt her physical growth, make her more susceptible to other infections, and even cause permanent cognitive damage – that’s a lower IQ, just because of worms!
• Children with worms also suffer from lower school attendance.

I wanted to share a couple of emails I’ve received in the last week, from experts in public health and disease prevention. We’re now working with these organizations to get shoes to were they’re needed most.

“Shoes  to children can provide additional protection against worm infections…”

“(Shoes) will make a huge difference in children’s  burden of disease…”

For me, every day that we give is another day to learn just how instrumental shoes can be as building blocks to children being healthy and able to get an education. This thing we’re doing with something so simple – shoes – gets bigger and more exciting every day, and I am so grateful to be part of it!

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