By Guest Blogger: Kelly Crane, Because International
Over 1.5 billion people suffer from soil-transmitted diseases worldwide.
Without shoes, children are especially vulnerable to diseases, parasites and injury. Children who get sick or injured miss school, can’t help their families, and suffer needlessly. And since children’s feet grow so quickly, they often outgrow donated shoes within a year, leaving them once again exposed.
The Shoe That Grows can change that.
Kenton Lee, founder of Because International, saw this firsthand in 2007 when he traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to live and work at a small orphanage.
One day, while walking down a dusty road with the kids, Kenton noticed a little girl in a white dress. As he looked down at her feet, he was shocked to see how small her shoes were—they were so small that she had cut the front of her shoes open to let her toes stick out. That day, Kenton thought: What if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand in size? What if there was a shoe that could grow?
The Creation Of The Shoe That Grows
Once back in Idaho, it took Kenton and his friends over six years to develop a shoe that could grow five sizes and was durable enough to last multiple years. But they never gave up.
After this, he started the nonprofit Because International to distribute The Shoe That Grows to as many kids as possible. Since then, more than 500,000 pairs of The Shoe That Grows have been distributed in 100+ countries—and it’s being produced in Kenya, one of the countries where pairs are distributed most.
In addition to distributing The Shoe That Grows, Because International uses what they learned in developing an impact product to support social entrepreneurs through the Because Fellowship—providing training, mentoring, networking and funding for enterprises that are making a difference through their own products.
Because International believes that, together, we can create a world where all communities thrive.
The Next Step? Getting Shoes On Feet That Need Them
Developing the perfect shoe for kids impacted by poverty was the first step, but then came the task of getting shoes to kids around the world who needed them—this is where the partnership of other individuals and organizations is so important.
Mission Partners For Christ (MPFC) is one of the organizations we have had the privilege of working with to get more shoes to kids who need them. MPFC is a medical mission organization that sends teams of fully trained and licensed medical professionals to treat underserved communities in Africa with limited access to healthcare.
Our partnership began in 2018 when MPFC distributed The Shoe That Grows during a medical mission trip to Liberia. Since then, MPFC has distributed more than 3,000 pairs of The Shoe That Grows across countries like Ethiopia, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone and Burundi.
The Shoe That Grows protects kids from soil-transmitted diseases, parasites and injuries that they often cannot afford to treat. By providing families with a pair after medical treatment, MPFC’s work is more impactful because kids are more likely to remain healthy with shoes that protect against injury and illness.
We are so grateful for MPFC’s work helping kids around the world!
2025 and Beyond
Over the past year, Because reached several key milestones, including surpassing 500,000 pairs of The Shoe That Grows distributed worldwide in July.
This milestone reflects both the commitment of our partners and the growing impact of our work. Our primary focus this year has been Kenya, where our shoes are manufactured and where we’ve continued to strengthen partnerships with schools and local organizations. This focus allows us to:
- Conduct pre- and post-distribution surveys with students and teachers
- Track the impact school by school
- Report measurable improvements in health, confidence, and attendance
These insights also help us share stronger, evidence-based information on need and impact with partners distributing shoes in other countries.
In regions like Busia County, students often walk several kilometers to school without shoes, increasing exposure to jiggers, hookworm, and foot injuries. The scope of this challenge is sobering. Early survey data shows:
- 78% of students report foot injuries from walking barefoot
- 85% know someone who has recently had jiggers or another infection
- 98% of teachers know someone affected by jiggers or worms
- Nearly 100% of teachers say student foot injuries are common
Consistent shoe use is a key preventive measure, and teachers are already reporting a noticeable decrease in jiggers after students receive our shoes. This year, we added several new organizational partners that collectively serve thousands of students, helping extend the reach and impact of our work.
New Model Coming January 2026
After extensive testing with our partners in Kenya, we are preparing to release the next version of The Shoe That Grows. It will be available for purchase in January, offering improvements in durability, comfort, and long-term protection.
To support Because International and our work through The Shoe That Grows, visit our website here.
To support MPFC’s work providing medical treatment and distributing shoes to families, you can do so here.
Your donation of $100 to Because International can provide ten children in Kenya with a pair of The Shoe That Grows.
Your donation of $100 to MPFC can bring those shoes to the children who need them in other locations across Africa.
As you close out 2025, will you join us in our work to alleviate poverty and ensure that all kids around the world have access to shoes?
Will you donate to Because International and Mission Partners For Christ to help us bring the hope of The Shoe That Grows?
