GIK from TOMS Shoes makes work and play more comfortable

It is another hot August day in Ulaanbaatar. Purevdorj Javzmaa, 12, is rushing home to play soccer. As he pushes a two-wheel cart loaded with a large canister of water, he uses the back of his hand to wipe away the heavy sweat from his forehead.

Fetching water from a nearby well is a daily routine for Purevdorj. Though it takes only 15 minutes for him to reach home, the poor road conditions take a big toll on his shoes.

Ulaanbaatar is a growing city where one can see magnificent skyscrapers in the heart of town which represent significant development. However, just 10 kilometres away lies a huge neighbourhood of old houses with such poor infrastructure that many people live with no access to running water.

Many roads that lead to this area are not paved, which causes a great deal of damage to footwear. Purevdorj says his shoes are easily worn out because he must travel along rough terrain when he fetches water each day. The condition of his shoes is of constant concern to the boy. “My favourite sport is soccer, and I have to be very careful when I play,” he says.

Purevdorj’s parents divorced a long time ago, and now he lives with his mother, three sisters and a younger brother. To support her family, Javzmaa, their mother, works at the local retail market store selling common household products such as shampoo, detergent and soap. As a single mother, she works extra hard to provide clothes and shoes for her five children.

World Vision Mongolia seeks to help families like Purevdorj’s improve their standard of living. Across the country, World Vision has implemented a gift-in-kind (GIK) project in its Area Development Programmes (ADPs). By distributing generous GIK donations from kind donors, the project provides many families with the clothes and shoes they cannot afford.

Purevdorj was happy to receive a pair of new shoes from Chingeltei ADP in Ulaanbaatar city. But Purevdorj isn’t alone. TOMS Shoes gives shoes to thousands of children who need footwear. Chingeltei ADP alone will distribute 1,000 pairs of shoes to the families who reside in the target areas.

“We have many families suffering from poverty,” reports Naranchimeg Rentsenkhorol, Chingeltei ADP’s Transformational Development facilitator. “These TOMS Shoes will help families take at least a little load off their shoulders,” she added.

“These shoes are really comfortable,” Purevdorj says with a smile that stretches across his tan face. He explains that he had a pair of sneakers, but he knew they wouldn’t last very long if he continues to play soccer. Now that he has a pair of better shoes, Purevdorj wears his TOMS Shoes not only when he fetches water, but also on the football field. “[TOMS Shoes] are built tough, because I put them on when I kick some football with my friends,” he says.