On Tuesday, September 8, 2020, the Raíz Foundation Ecuador received an important donation from Soles 4 Souls, an organization that donates shoes and clothing to people in extreme poverty in the United States and around the world. 420 pairs of shoes were donated to the residents of the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood in the Atacames canton of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Most of the recipients are beneficiaries of the CAEMBA – Bamboo Emergency Houses – project.
The Raíz Foundation Ecuador and its CAEMBA project express their gratitude to Marisa Endara, representative of this organization in Ecuador, for facilitating this donation.
Soles 4 Souls operates under the scheme of donating 1 dollar to obtain a pair of shoes. In this way, they have reached thousands of beneficiaries worldwide who need something as basic as a decent pair of shoes. They also provide clothing for those most in need. To date, they have delivered 51,716,848 pairs of shoes. Importantly, this quantity of shoes was prevented from being discarded.
The organization forms alliances with women’s shelters – such as the Casa de la Mujer de CAEMBA – retirement organizations, childcare programs, and schools that organize the collection of shoes and clothing for those in need.
Thanks to the shoe donations, Soles 4 Souls achieves three main objectives. The first is the right to health, as without shoes, people are vulnerable to cutting their feet, acquiring bacteria and parasites that can lead to infections and other diseases. The second objective is access to education and employment, as without shoes, they cannot access these opportunities. Finally, dignity is given to those who receive their pairs of shoes.
Soles 4 Souls aims to impact in four areas. The first is to provide relief to thousands of people in the United States and other parts of the world who need shoes. The second is combating poverty, as they advise people to start their own businesses based on the sale of second-hand shoes and clothing. The third is environmental protection, as instead of discarding used materials, they give them a good use through donations. Finally, they aspire to empower women, ensuring that they have access to opportunities equitably.
The residents of Nueva Esperanza in Atacames, Ecuador, thank Soles 4 Souls for making this donation. Thank you for your solidarity!
