20.11.2021
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​300 Million Children Around The World Don't have Shoes: Kenton Lee Fights Soil-Transmitted Diseases With "Shoe That Grows"

Children outgrow their shoes quickly. That often leaves kids who live in abject poverty no option but to walk around barefoot. An estimated 300 million children around the world don’t have shoes and are prone to suffer from soil-transmitted diseases and parasites. Kenton Lee has a practical solution — a shoe that grows as the child does. The shoes can expand up to five sizes and last up to five years. They can be adjusted at three places: the front with a hook and holes like a waist belt, the sides with Velcro, and the back with a buckle. The bottom is made of compressed rubber-like tire rubber, and the top is high-quality leather with anti-bacterial synthetic and high grade Velcro making the shoes easy to clean. So far, working with partner organisations, "Because International" has sent more than 300,000 pairs of the shoes to 100 countries on six continents. The shoe comes in two sizes, a small that fits children ages 4 to 9, and a large for youngsters ages 9 to 14. Lee points out that many children live in areas without adequate sanitation. Many soil-transmitted diseases and parasites get into the body through the soles of their feet. Lee believes a pair of shoes offers more than protection; it provides dignity. He says his goal is to help get the Shoe That Grows to as many children as he can around the world. “Because it is a small thing that really does make a big difference to keep them healthy and happy and having more chances to succeed,” he said. Credit: BRIGHTVIBES