TOMS: One Day Without Shoes

How many of you actually think about your shoes when you put them on in the morning? Sure, I’ll wake up, get dressed, pick my shoes--but I’ll pick them based on how cold it is, how much I’ll be walking and--do they match? It’s all a bit sad and superficial when I think about it. Most of the time, shoes are just shoes. I wear them because that’s what we do, never thinking about their actual role--to protect our feet from abrasions and infections.

But in developing countries, shoes are luxuries. In places such as Ethiopia, wearing shoes can 100% prevent a disease called podoconiosis, which causes swelling in the feet and legs because of extended exposure to irritants in soil. Exposed feet are also susceptible to infection, worms, and cold weather illnesses. In addition, most schools require shoes to be worn in class; if children don’t have shoes, many times they also won’t be able to get an education either.

To combat this, TOMS shoes has a “One for One” philosophy: for every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a pair to a child in need. It was while browsing the TOMS website that I came upon their event, “One Day Without Shoes.” The premise is pretty self explanatory--spend one day, April 5th without shoes to raise awareness about the TOMS mission. As we have learned in class, you can choose to shed light on a problem, but it’s also important to have a policy to help solve it, as well as motivate change in other people. Look at this simple graphic TOMS put up to explain their motivation for One Day Without Shoes:

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/learn-more

While I did spend April 5th as a day without shoes*, I didn’t have anyone come up with to me to ask why--I think most people had already heard about it, so they just didn’t bother. Still I think it was a good way to raise awareness and it was definitely a good experience for me--it’s all well and good to learn about how these people are suffering without shoes, but when you actually do it, walk to class, wander around during a random snow shower, trying to sneak into the commons to get food without getting kicked out, you begin to realize (if only a tiny fraction) what these people go through every day. It definitely helped me put my life into perspective in comparison with how other people are living.

So I guess it’s hard to see how effective TOMS’ “One Day Without Shoes” was. On the whole though, I think their “One for One” philosophy is an exceptional idea, and I’m really impressed that they actually care this much about an issue many may not even know about. I don’t know about you, but seeing this definitely motivates me to want to do something--even if it’s just to buy a pair of shoes.

* Okay, so I spent the second half of the day without shoes--I really need to start checking my calendar when I wake up..