Edited by Jessica Lapidos
Today the world took off their shoes to raise awareness for the staggering number of children across the globe who are contracting STDs. Soil-Transmitted Diseases, that is. These infections, such as Podoconiosis, intestinal worms and other parasites seep in through bare feet from volcanic and/or chemically contaminated soil. And all of these diseases are 100% preventable… with shoes. There are hundreds of millions of children that are simply too poor to afford shoes and have never owned a pair in their lives. Many kids must walk for miles each day to fetch water through rough or muddy terrain, barefoot. That’s why TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need with every pair purchased. One for one.
