Africare Partners with TOMS for Shoe Giving in Liberia and Malawi
Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 22, 2013 -- Africare, a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of people in Africa, announced today its multi-year giving partnership with TOMS to provide primary school children in Liberia and Malawi with new shoes to help prevent illnesses and improve their quality of life.
“In countries like Liberia and Malawi, we see the adverse effect of bare-footedness on children,” said Darius Mans, President of Africare. “As a TOMS Giving Partner, Africare is not only able to provide children with new pairs of shoes as they grow, we are also increasing their health and their self-esteem, which heavily impacts school attendance and performance.”
TOMS supports Africare’s commitment to improving the quality of life of the people of Liberia and Malawi, where high levels of poverty impact food security, access to safe water, quality of health services and education for youths and adults alike. Africare will distribute new TOMS Shoes to already identified orphans and vulnerable children in the areas where it is implementing health, agriculture, and water and sanitation projects in both countries, where more than 50% of the populations live below the poverty line.
In mid-October, Africare will host TOMS shoe distribution events in Liberia and Malawi to signify the partnership and provide new shoes to beneficiaries at the beginning of the academic year. Africare is enlisting the help of its local leaders and representatives to assist with the distributions and monitor the events’ successes. Through these events, Africare hopes to raise awareness of the importance of buoying the self-esteem and health of youth, which will in turn improve their desire to attend school, and ultimately, improve their academic performance.
Africare began operating in Liberia in 1992. Since then, Africare/Liberia has invested approximately $30 million implementing projects addressing Agriculture & Food Security; Health, HIV & AIDS; Humanitarian and Emergency Relief; Infrastructure; Maternal and Child Health; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; and Women’s Empowerment.
In 1985, Africare began operating in Malawi. Since that time, Africare/Malawi has implemented projects addressing Agriculture & Food Security; Child Health; HIV & AIDS; Humanitarian and Emergency Relief; Nutrition; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; and Women’s Empowerment.
About Africare
Africare is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to addressing African development and policy issues by working in partnership with African people to build sustainable, healthy and productive communities. Since 1970, Africare has provided well over $1 billion of assistance and support through more than 2,500 projects in Agriculture & Food Security; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Women’s Empowerment; and Health, HIV & AIDS that have impacted millions of beneficiaries in 36 countries in Africa. Visit http://www.africare.org for more information.
About TOMS
In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One.®
Five years later, TOMS realized this movement could serve other basic needs and launched TOMS Eyewear. With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need. One for One.® As more everyday choices have the power to impact the lives of those around the world, the TOMS movement will continue to grow and evolve. Visit http://www.TOMS.com for more information.
Nicole S. Miles, Africare, http://www.africare.org, 202-328-5320, [email protected]
Share this article