Sole Hope

The call to Be you, Bravely is concurrently empowering and intimidating. We get that. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start or identify exactly what is calling our hearts toward doing something brave. If you’re not sure what brave thing to do this year maybe it’s about slowing down to listen to your heart, or maybe it’s about trying out a few things, because sometimes it takes getting involved before we know we’re passionate. For those of you in the second category, we’ll be highlighting organizations doing impactful things in the world with opportunities to dip your toe in, getting involved right from your home. (For those of you in the first category, we hope you’ll follow us along in The Brave Collective and that the journeys of other women will inspire and orient you in your own calling.)

This month, we’re highlighting. It is an organization creating sustainable change in Uganda. They have a unique approach to impacting lives, and they have some amazing ways folks are able to get involved here in the U.S., through the making of shoes to prevent disease. I had the chance to chat with Holly Jones, U.S. Office Director of , and learn more about their brave work.

Here’s to brave!

How does work?

Holly: ’s core purpose is to effectively put in place preventive methods to combat diseases that enter through the feet andto create a positive physical and spiritual difference in the lives of individuals in impoverished communities. We do this by working one on one with the Ugandan people to host jigger removal clinics in nearby villages, provide education classes to children and job sustainability to make the shoes we provide to the children.

born!

Where is currently working?

Holly: is based in Jinja, Uganda, and serves the people there and in surrounding villages. Our U.S. office is in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Can you share some interesting facts about ?

Holly: is in collaboration with the Jinja District Health Department, which is the first collaboration of its kind! We’ve also served over 200 people at our Outreach Clinic since it’s opening in September! Our shoemakers produced over 10,000 pairs of shoes in 2014!

What can a mom or a MOPS group do to help ?

Holly: Moms can host shoe cuttingparties where they actually cut out the top half of the shoes from jean material which we then send over to our shoemakers in Uganda.Along with providing shoes to the children who stay at our outreach clinic, we also like to send them home with a nice outfit or two. Donations ofchildren’s gently used clothing are very helpful.

What is inspiring you today to Be you, Bravely?

Holly: Knowing I work for an organization that is truly making a difference inchildren’s lives on a daily basis is the biggest inspiration to be brave and carry out the mission in the U.S.