Donate Now
Breaking the cycle of poverty

Categories

Shoes For Africa

Hello Nasio supporters!

My name is Camille, I am a new recruit this year. I am a student at the University of Oxford, doing a Masters’ Degree in Development Studies. Here at the Nasio Trust, I am in charge of the Shoes for Africa entrepreneurship project.

As you may already know, this project aims to tackle the growing issue of jiggers, a small parasite that burrows into people’s feet, laying eggs under the skin, and creating dangerous infections. Children and adults can have difficulties to move, and to go to school or to work. Additionally, in trying to treat the infections with safety pins or needles, they are also at high risk of contracting HIV. As jiggers hides in dust, and attack mainly the feet, wearing closed-toe shoes provides a simple preventative measure. Many families are unable to afford shoes though, especially for children whose feet are growing.

Our project will now tackle this issue by setting up a social enterprise: local, newly trained cobblers and sewers will take on the manufacture of shoes to be sold to the local community. To support the enterprise, an educational campaign will inform families on the benefits of the shoes, and on the need to wear them every day.

How will these shoes remain affordable, you ask? We have two solutions! First, they will be made mainly of recycled materials, such as denim and car tires (as seen in the prototype here), which are easily found at good prices on local markets. Secondly, the original business will then be expanded with a parallel enterprise: the manufacture of different, up-market shoes to be sold in Nairobi and other places. These shoes will be marketed to urban middle classes as well as to tourists, in order to subsidize the wages and materials for the original shoes.

I am now working with two other Oxford University students, Michael and Sarina, and together we will be going to Kenya this summer to engage with the community, and to identify together with them the best way to achieve break-even for the business. We will also set up training for future employees, and finalize the supply chain.

If you would like to help fund our research, as well as a two-week trial run of shoe production this summer, please donate on this page!

Donate Now
"I had no hope of being educated but now have the chance to access education, food, clothing and medication. I will work hard and dream to become a builder, to construct homes for people who don’t have shelter."
Saidi Makokha (aged 9 – supported by Nasio)

From the blog...

Oxford Green Fair

This year’s Green Fair was the 42nd year the Oxfordshire Green Party ran their annual event Green Fair 2023.

Nasio were invited as an Oxfordshire based charity.

Find out more

Katie Isbester Discusses Positive Effects of Reading At An Early Age

Confessions of a Female Publisher by Katie Isbester

Books are essential for broadening our intellectual horizons, but access to these books is found primarily in libraries, a precious resource that is often taken for granted. In her article ‘Confessions of a Female Publisher’, Katie Isbester delves into the positive effects of reading at an early age and the inspiration it provided.

Find out more

Muslim Farmers Project

Medina Rajab is a Muslim farmer from Ichinga village, she benefited from the Nasio Trust Muslim farming project where she received maize seeds, fertilizer, and vegetable seeds. She managed to harvest 2 bag of maize which she stored for consumption.

Vegetable production has improved her family’s health by increasing the number of meals per day. Previously, her family used to have a single meal a day but after harvesting the vegetables, she manages 2 meals a day due to availability of enough vegetables.

Find out more

Get updates by email

Stay up to date with Nasio news, appeals, volunteer stories & fundraising events