My First Pair of Shoes Program
The look of joy on a child's face when they put on their very first pair of shoes is something that you'll remember the rest of you life . Nothing compares to the huge smile and look of enormous pride when a child puts on that very first pair of shoes. But pride and self esteem are only a happy by-product.
Less than 50% of the CHILDREN in Haiti & Dom. Republic OWN A PAIR OF SHOES and ARE at risk for SERIOUS disease.
The unhappy reality is that shoes are a first line of defense to prevent the spread of infectious disease and parasites that plague poor children worldwide. Shoes are a basic necessity.. Having a pair of shoes is a rarity for many kids in developing nations. It is common for children to grow up without ever having had a pair of shoes at all.
The first thing we do is try and provide shoes for all the barefoot children we see. It is the easiest and most inexpensive way to help their chances at a better life. The kids smile from ear to ear when they put on that very first pair of shoes, but more importantly, we know that we have eliminated a lot of potential health risks. The faster we put shoes on their feet, the faster the risks are eliminated.
Many serious health conditions are absorbed through their feet. As the bottom of the feet harden large cracks form which allows parasites such as hookworm and threadworm to penetrate the skin. An estimated 576-740 million people in the world are infected with hookworm. Hookworm was once widespread in the Southeast United States, but improvements in living conditions have greatly reduced hookworm infections in the USA.
Can you imagine what it feels like to have hookworms in your feet? In your body? Having no shoes to protect your tiny feet and no doctors or nurses to help you treat this painful condition.
Puncture wounds, cuts, and scrapes are common on the feet of barefoot kids. These injuries are almost never treated and can lead to serious infections, amputations and even death.
It brings a lot of joy to put the first pair of shoes on a child and see that smile, but in fact, you could be saving their life or helping a kid avoid medical problems that can seriously hamper their potential or even kill them.
NO school without shoes
AmeriHand provides shoes to children who live in poverty in rural areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic where most schools won't allow children to attend without shoes or uniform. Many kids can't attend school simply because their parent(s) can't afford the required shoes and blue or white school uniform shirts. Please help a child attend school and realize their full potential with a $28 donation that will supply a pair of shoes and school shirt.
We also try to help provide school supplies once we have provided shoes and a proper school uniform. A pack of 10 pencils costs around $1 in the USA. In the Dominican Repubic you get 2 pencils for 60 pesos. ($1.20). Many families just don't have the money to provide school supplies for their kids.
Donate Shoes
An ounce of prevention
These kids live without shoes, their feet are at tremendous risk as they play or walk through in areas with sewerage trenches and areas contaminated with human or animal waste.
In addition to infections brought on by external injuries, these children's bare feet are particularly at risk from hookworm. The faster we can put shoes on their feet, the faster these dangerous risks are eliminated
hookworm for children in developing countries
Every Day, 500 million poor kids go barefoot.
