Because International

🌍✨Five ways to get involved with Because International in 2025 ✨🌍 1️⃣ Join The Sole, a community of monthly donors who support distributions of shoes to kids in crisis. 2️⃣ Receive stories of impact, news and updates each month.  3️⃣ Bring shoes on your 2025 service or mission trips and impact kids' lives for years to come.  4️⃣ For every pair of The Shoe That Grows you purchase for yourself, we'll donate a pair on your behalf to a child in Kenya!  5️⃣ Include The Shoe That Grows as your WOW Item and give a gift that keeps giving! Get started at becauseinternational.org. We can't wait to see all you accomplish for communities in 2025! ❤️

Though we had many favorite moments in 2024, we're excited to share our final one with you today before we enter 2025. Members of The Sole donate monthly to support families in crisis who shouldn’t have to worry about shoes for their kids. In 2024, this amazing community supported the distribution of The Shoe That Grows to families in both Gaza and Lebanon, two communities facing humanitarian crises and without access to basic necessities like shoes. Thank you for being a part of our mission! We'll see you in 2025👋

Thanks to so many of you, 20,410 pairs of The Shoe That Grows are on their way to kids around the world in Christmas shoeboxes. That's 20,410 kids who will feel loved and seen this holiday season. Thank you for giving a gift that will impact kids for years to come 💚🎄

Our favorite moments of 2024 continued, featuring a recent trip to Kenya, where our team was fortunate to have several Because Accelerator alumni join us for a distribution of The Shoe That Grows. Beyond the joy of finally meeting some of them face-to-face for the first time, the ability to work alongside each other and practice some of the concepts discussed in the trainings was meaningful for all involved. Stay tuned for our final special moment #5!

Mentorship makes a difference! 🤝 Because International is committed to partnering with entrepreneurs who can benefit from the lessons we've learned through developing The Shoe That Grows and connecting them to our amazing network of business mentors. One of the innovative entrepreneurs we work with is Ishaku Ali-Baba, co-founder of MUBAL Agro and General Enterprise, a Nigerian company that makes a nutritious and affordable powdered food blend for children and expectant mothers. He said of his mentor Joel Hillier, "Mr. Joel's mentorship has been instrumental in expanding my business horizons, equipping me with strategic insights and expertise to tap into new markets." Likewise, Joel said, "Ishaku and I built a strong working relationship rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for meaningful change. Mentoring him has been deeply rewarding, particularly as he channels his passion, education, and innovative thinking into addressing critical issues. For me, mentoring is about unlocking potential and guiding individuals to amplify their impact, and seeing the tangible difference Ishaku’s work is making reaffirms the profound importance of mentorship." Learn more about our work partnering with entrepreneurs committed to creating a world where all people can thrive. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gt82nnz5

Thanks to your support, 39 jobs were created in 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya, where The Shoe That Grows is manufactured. Whether you contributed through donations, became a member of The Sole, or took shoes on a mission trip—you helped support families in a community where shoes are needed most. Thank you 💚

Our favorite moments of 2024 continued, featuring an impactful shoe distribution you helped make possible! Earlier this year, 1,526 kids in Kenya received a pair of shoes thanks to your generosity for Shoe The World Day and our partner Swahiba Networks. The community that received shoes in Buldalangi, Kenya is one where students frequently drop out of school to support their families—often by working labor-intensive jobs like sand harvesting. Now, one barrier to education has been removed for these kids, which is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty. Stay tuned for special moment #4! ❤️

Slum Girls Initiative supports Kenyan women and children through menstrual health, uniform mending, nutrition and mentorship programs. After founder Janny Marangu heard about The Shoe That Grows through a friend, she was eager to distribute pairs to kids they serve who had torn, ill-fitting shoes—of which there were many. Janny was able to distribute 195 pairs, providing these kids with foot protection and dignity for years to come. Thanks to Janny and Slum Girls Initiative for the amazing work you do! Want to distribute The Shoe That Grows through your nonprofit organization? Learn more at becauseinternational.org

For some kids in southern Zambia, the typical walk to school can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours—often without adequate footwear. After seeing a need for shoes, Pastor Andy Neal at Temple Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, coordinated a distribution of The Shoe That Grows to communities his church has an ongoing relationship with. Read more about TempleJonesboro's distribution and how The Shoe That Grows is a perfect pairing to support education in the communities they serve ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g766brSc #TheShoeThatGrows

Our favorite moments of 2024 continued, featuring Ichor Joshua Ichor from Nigeria with Geotek Water! Earlier this year, our team had the opportunity to meet Joshua at our headquarters in Nampa, Idaho, and hear more about his incredible work increasing access to clean drinking water. Your ongoing support of Because International and The Shoe That Grows helps fuel our work supporting entrepreneurs like Joshua, who are creating sustainable solutions that improve entire communities. Stay tuned for special moment #3! ❤️