Crocs For Orphan Tots

Raising Funds for Supplies

2009-10-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

We are soliciting your support for a fund-raising activity of our non-profit, charity PROLASA Canada. We have collected a large quantity of books, school supplies, crocs and shoes, medical equipment and supplies which we need to send to Africa. We are hoping to be able to send a 40 foot container, filled with the supplies and equipment that we have collected, but the cost is between $15,000 and $18,000.

In order to raise the needed money we are asking interested people to skip one meal on Sunday, November 22 and to ask their neighbours, friends, family, colleagues and classmates to sponsor them by making a donation to PROLASA. Receipts for income tax purposes will be issued by our PROLASA ofiice in Canada and ICC office in the USA for any donation $10 or larger. Would you be willing to help us and be a participant?

If you want to participate here are the PDF forms you will need for more information.

NB Power Employees Light Up the Lives of Children in Congo

2009-03-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

The employees of NB Power have come to the rescue of the children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over the past few months, the employees of NB Power collected 250 pair of crocs for the children in Congo. Spearheaded by Roland Bowmaster and the Grand Falls office, the support spread throughout the province and soon boxes of crocs started coming in. Thanks to all of you who contributed and thanks to Roland for getting this started. Your help will make a big difference in the lives of many children in Congo!

Crocs Collected by the employees of NB Power

The Employees of NB Power collected 250 pair of Crocs for the Children of Congo

Thank-you to all who helped out -- Merci à tout le monde qui a contibué!

New Fighting in the Congo

2008-11-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

More rebel fighting has erupted in the Congo (DRC) since August 2008. This is catastrophic to the region and has displaced more and more people. Refugee camps are struggling with the challenge of housing at least 250,000 people.

There are many news reports of the orphaned children being left by this fighting which is just heartbreaking. The orphans currently being cared for in the orphanage on the island of Idgwi are safe from the fighting and that is why the orphanage was built on the island. The island is far enough from the mainland and has never experienced the rebel fighting. But the need for homes for the newly orphaned is always an evolving need. The orphanage is always in need of help and donations to keep the current children fed, healthy and provide them with medical care and education. The new strains of trying to take in any new orphans will also depend on donations and funds to support them and provide shelter for them. If you would like to know more about how to donate to the orphanage for their current orphans and to help with future orphans then please go to their website and donate if you can. Their organization is called International Children's Care and if you can help I am sure it will be greatly appreciated. If you would like to read more about the orphan village and its projects here is a link directly to that.

****Due to all this new rebel unrest the plans for visiting the Congo to deliver the Crocs has been postponed until early 2009 as soon as the rebel fighting subsides enough to allow for a safe trip to the orphanage. The team has to travel through the war torn area to get to the Island.

Crocs for Orphan Tots Charity Event Birthday!

2008-10-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

I received a message on facebook from a Mary Jo and here is what it said:

"Just wanted to touch base with you and thank you for your efforts to bring crocs to orphan tots.

My daughter and her friend, 13 and 14 years old, are having a combined birthday party this Friday evening and have selected Crocs for Orphan Tots as their charity recipient.

We are having 24 girls who are bringing crocs instead of presents. I hope we get a good supply for your group."

I thought it was such a unique idea and such great a way to allow these children attending the party to get involved in projects that make them connect to our global community in a very personal way.

I have since gotten an update:

"The girls had their party Friday night. It was quite fun, and they all brought crocs -- we have 55 pairs to donate! We have new, gently used, large, small, a little bit of everything."

I would love to share more Croc collection stories. So if you don't mind sharing yours, please contact me. I would love to share it with others that are helping out.

Pictures of your kids playing in their Crocs!

2008-06-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

DeLuca in her first pair of Crocs! How cute are they?

I would love to see and post pictures of you or your children wearing their Crocs this summer. If you have pictures in your Crocs and don't mind sharing them just email me the picture and I would love to share it on this blog. No names will be included unless you would like them to be. You can email me at twizzledesigns [at] msn.com and I will share them.

Have a great summer!

Attention all Parents!

2008-06-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived and the heat is on. I know many of you have children wearing Crocs this summer. At the end of summer when those Crocs have had a lot of use remeber that they can then be donated to our project and they can bring year round use to a child in need in the Congo, Africa. So keep us in mind and at the end of summer please drop them off or send them to this project and they will go directly to a child in need of shoe in the Congo. For drop off locations please see this link and if there are no drop off locations near you and you would like to be a drop off location just leave a comment on this posting or comment on the facebook group wall. Remember that if you cannot afford to help with the shipping of the crocs just contact us and we will help with shipping.

Tobique Valley Exceeds All Expectations!!

2008-05-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

The students and faculty of Tobique Valley Middle School and High School have exceeded all expectations in their contribution for the Crocs for Orphan Tots Project. Spearheaded by two teachers Tara Legace and Karen Elliott, the 300 students have collected 411 pair of crocs in the past four weeks!!!

Tobique Valley Middle & High School Gym

A Rainbow of Crocs

After Mrs. Legace became aware of the Crocs For Orphan Tots Project she unleashed her imagination and her creativity and with great enthusiasm she told her students about the project. Karen Elliott, who teaches at the High School did the same and over a period of four weeks the students of TVMHS collected crocs with enthusiasm. And what a collection they made!!

Crocs Line The Bleachers in the Gym

Interest in their Congolese counterparts grew as the project gathered momentum. Dr. Wecker, Daniel and Melissa were invited to the school and the students had a plethora of questions about life in Congo and about the needs for shoes. Today, all the students of both the High School and the Middle School gathered in the gym as the Crocs that they had collected were presented to PROLASA Canada. They will be taken to Congo in December.

The students then loaded them all into two large boxes and one of their teachers helped transport them to the Tobique Valley Medical Centre where they will be stored until they are taken to Congo.

Students Loading Crocs into Boxes

Unloading the Truck

PROLASA Canada and Crocs For Orphan Tots want to sincerely thank everyone at Tobique Valley Middle and High School who was involved with the project. You exceeded all expectations! We will take these shoes to the Island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and we will distribute them to the children at the Patmos Children's Village and to students at some of the surrounding schools. We want you to know that you have made a HUGE difference in the live of many children. Thanks.

News About the Crocs For Orphan Tots Programme Hits the Carleton Country Free Press

2008-05-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

The following article was printed in the Carleton County Free Press this week. Thank-you everyone at the Free Press for your support of this project.

Nina Brings in 42 Pair of Crocs

2008-05-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

Nina McDougall of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick has really taken off with her Facebook group for Crocs For Orphan Tots. She has brought in 42 pair of Crocs and a cheque for $100 to help with getting the crocs to the tots in Congo. Way to go Nina!!! Your help is much appreciated.

Nina McDougall and the Crocs that she has collected!
Way to go Nina!!

200 Crocs!

2008-05-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Well I submitted a donation request fro 200 Crocs to SolesUnited a few months ago. They are a foundation that donates Crocs to people in need around the world.

I finally received the Crocs. 200 pairs arrived at my Brother's house in Massachusetts (my Dad flies out from Boston when traveling to Africa so we ship everything there to store until the next trip).

I submitted paperwork and then did an interview with SolesUnited in order to get the donation and I cannot wait to see pictures of when they arrive on the island. These shoes will be such a blessing to these children for years to come.

Thanks Crocs and SolesUnited.

Our Crocs Project on Facebook

2008-05-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well this is how projects like this became an amazing success. Great people like Nina get involved and share their ideas and enthusiasm to get more individuals working on this. Yay!!!! I cannot say thanks enough to those of you willing to help.

Nina heard about the project from her 16 y/o daughter who attended an assembly where my Dad and my sister did a presentation about the Crocs for Orphan Tots project. She then started a Facebook group for this project. Such a great idea. I just joined the group and I hope you will too. So here is the link to join.

Keep up the good work Nina.

Plaster Rock on Board!

2008-05-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

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I just got off the phone with my Dad ( Dr. Barry). He just finished a school assembly meeting at the middle school in town. He said there were 200 or more children there and they were all excited about the project. They got to ask questions about the children in Africa and about the project. In the past 7 days they have collected over 70 crocs and that is just the beginning. This is so exciting. It is one of those things that keeps on surprising me the enthusiasm that this project is met with. Having shoes is one of those simple things we take for granted here in the western world and yet for many it is a struggle to find food much less shoes. These children in the D. R. Congo will be so blessed with a pair of crocs.

Tobique Valley High School in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick

Tunga penetrans Infection

2008-05-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

On our blog entry of 2008 April 23, we showed photos of a skin disorder which is caused by not wearing shoes. We have now correctly identified this disease. It is an infection of sand fleas called Tunga penetrans which affects the feet of those who do not wear shoes. The female flea burrows under the skin and forms a small, pea-sized cyst. When it gets mature, it causes some irritation of the skin. The french word for it is "chique".

Plaster Rock Pharmasave Helps Out

2008-05-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received a call from Norris McMillan at the Plaster Rock Pharmasave to say that they had 45 pair of "Daws" which are Croc-like shoes, that they were going to donate to Crocs For Orphan Tots! Today we headed down to the store and picked them up. What a great help for the children on the Island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of Congo!!! Thanks Norris and a big thanks to all of your staff as well.

Plaster Rock Pharmasave
Plaster Rock, New Brunswick

A Shout Out to Plaster Rock Schools

2008-05-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Plaster Rock, New Brunswick is my hometown in Canada. My parents moved there when I was 13. I have just heard that the high school and middle school in Plaster Rock have started helping with this project. Yay!!! and thanks so much!

If you are from Plaster Rock area and are viewing this blog feel free to leave a comment on this post. It is so nice to hear you all are helping. These children in the Congo will be so blessed by something as simple as a pair of shoes.

Thanks Again Kim and Emily!

2008-04-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks again Kim and Emily for your first pair of crocs you donated. They are still serving the same child more than a year latter. The next few pairs that you donated this year have finally arrived and are keeping another child or two safe from diseases and foot injuries as well. Due to the delay in the luggage arrival I do not have any pictures of them being given out but we are hoping to get some pictures sometime soon but rest assured they did arrive.

Thought you would enjoy seeing an updated picture of the child who received the original red pair of crocs. He has grown in the past year but his crocs are his prized possession and my Dad said he never lets them out of his sight. They have nick named him "Kermit" and you can see his most recent pictures (see above).

Rural School on Idjwi Shows Need for Crocs!

2008-04-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

Although the luggage was delayed in arriving until we were leaving it became very apparent to me as a first time visitor to the island of Idjwi, how important Croc-like sandals were to the children. I spent my week on the island visiting projects and institutions in the local villages around the Patmos Children's Village but it was when I toured the local primary schools that I really became aware of the need for Crocs for the tots.

Rural School on the Island of Idjwi

How is this for a crowded school?

The school was crowded--the only spare space was by the door.

The children in the picture above were from a local village school. The classrooms had no windows, no lights, no lamps. There were no chairs or desks so stones had been carried in by the children to sit upon. They propped the few scarce note books and pencil nubins on their knees and there were so many children in the classroom that it was shoulder to shoulder and knee to back. The only free space was right by the door as can be seen in the picture. The teacher was even packed in with no moving space.

What really caught my attention though was the muddy floor. It was dry outside, but the floor inside was covered in mud puddles. And all that kept the children from sitting in it were the stones that they were sitting upon.

Water puddles on the school floor

Desire, the project developer, quickly explained that they carried water from the lake to pour on the floor because there is a bug he called "chique" which would in-bed itself in the bare feet from the dry ground inside buildings.

And so they studied balancing on small stones, in a building with no windows, at maximum capacity and sitting in the mud - because the children are barefoot.

Here are the children sitting on their stones and bricks on a mud floor!

Below is a picture of the foot of a local villager who walked to our village in order to get medical advice on the "chique" that had buried into his feet from living bare foot, on a dry floor, without washing.

Thank you to all who have donated and gathered crocs! I hope this makes you realize that the crocs are not just a fashion statement- they are a health necessity. You are changing lives. We will be posting pictures of the orphans with the crocs you sent as soon as possible.

The children all say Thanks!!!!

Luggage Arrives!

2008-04-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

Well I do not have any details but I have gotten word that the luggage arrived but just as the team was leaving to come home. I am sure we will get a full update soon.

No Luggage!

2008-04-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well the flight from Johannesburg to Kigali was canceled so they had to wait an fly out the next day on another flight to Kigali. When they arrived none of their luggage had made it with them. That includes the Crocs. It is very hard to get communication back and forth from Dad right now as there are few phone lines or communication period. The last we heard was this update about the lost luggage. Please send positive thoughts and prayers that the crocs and the rest of the luggage and supplies will arrive sooner rather than latter. I will let you all know any updates as they trickle in.

We're in Johannesburg

2008-04-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

When we got to Logan International Airport in Boston we hoped and prayed that we would be able to check our baggage all the way to Kigali so as to avoid the problems that would occur if we had to pick the bags up in Johannesburg and then re-check them to Kigali tomorrow. The agent at the Delta counter was SO VERY helpful and interested in the Crocs For Orphan Tots project. She not only checked our bags all the way to Kigali but she also took down the blogsite address and said that she would look it up. If you are reading this, we just want you to know how much we appreciate your friendly interest and your help. What a difference that has made to our project! Thanks for your help.

Every bit of assistance, every pair of crocs helps make this project a success!

The flight to Johannesburg went well--just l o n g! But we are in J'Burg and waiting for our flight to Kigali tomorrow.

Off to Africa

2008-04-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday morning and we are leaving for the airport to Boston where we will catch our flights to Atlanta and Johannesburg with connections to Kigali. We have 135 pair of Crocs with us. Thanks so much to everyone who has helped and contributed. We will try to keep you posted on how things go. No internet access from Idjwi though! :)

The Crocs are Off to Congo!

2008-03-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it is April 1 and we are on our way to Congo. Keep watching the Blog for photos of the children with their new Crocs. Thanks to everyone who has made this project a success!

Redistribution Ariel's Way!

2008-03-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ariel and Perrie with the croc shoes.

Ariel's Dad Roy

Ariel is a dear friend and roomate of my Sister Melissa's when she lived in England for college. She has also become a great friend to our entire family and is such a warm loving person. She heard about our project from Melissa and quickly sprang into action. Here is a little about her and how she has managed to help out even being a grad student doesn't stop her.

" A bit about me..grad student at Univ of Miami--spanish language journalism track ("periodismo"). GO CANES! Hmm...some things I love...God, my family, dogs, the arts, writing letters, cooking, kicking back with a good book (note: book, not TEXTbook), playing listening and singing--anything music related (just ask melissa--i can be pretty goofy about it. at newbold I was constantly begging and working to borrow a guitar--even used to walk with a pik in my wallet), volunteering where I'm needed... and traveling when I can afford it! <> :-)

I think the crocs project is easy for people to strive towards because everyone knows someone with kids who will outgrow or have outgrown their crocs. Or you know someone who knows someone... For our personal donation, our family decided to scale back on Christmas and take on a couple missions projects instead. (If we gave presents, they were homemade). So some of the extra cash went towards some pairs of crocs for the kids.

As for a student budget..well yes, grad students typically don't have a lot of spending cash, but I personally found ways to scale back too. Small & simple things can offer a lot for donations. For example, instead of occasionally buying Papa Johns, I'd go buy a generic supermarket pizza, and the 10 bucks you save, you can go buy two pairs of imitation crocs from Target or Walmart. The food actually tastes better when you know you're making a contribution to something important. I don't go to Blockbuster or movies, just wait for the library to get the DVD... the 7 or 10 bucks there can go for a donation also.

So I haven't made revolutionary changes to my lifestyle--just a little "redistribution". Also any spare change I collect I've been keeping in a jar and when it fills up I'll count it out and donate it also(I call that one "Change for crocs" ;) still in progress....might be more exciting if I had a smaller jar that filled up faster!) I hope that some of the other students I've asked will also find creative ways to contribute as well.

This pic is me with my poodlemix Perrie (formerly a scrawny stray, yet remarkably photogenic) and some of the crocs we collected. (Perrie has a habit of crawling into a lap if its within reach--so this picture without her was not an option) The other pic is my daddy, Roy, with the last set of crocs on the day we went to post them. I have a picture of the lady at UPS too, who boxed them (for free!! Last time the manager said she charged extra for that. :P) and asked all kinds of questions. She thinks its super and wants to know if there's a need for clothing as well."

Ariel is truly an inspiring giver. You do not have to be rich to enjoy helping others and although Ariel is modest and feels that her changes to her lifestyle aren't "revolutionary" but are instead "redistribution" I think that she is REVOLUTIONARY!!!! and just think if we all did a little "redistribution" in our own lifestyles we are truly going to change the world and ourselves in the process.

Sydnee Helps Collect Crocs for Congo

2008-03-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sydnee, her gramma Ginny and her great-gramma Marnie and the Crocs that they have collected

Sydnee is 5 year old girl from Plaster Rock, New Brunswick who, along with her grandmother Ginny and her great-grandmother Marnie, has collected 10 pair of crocs for Africa. Sydnee's favourite Crocs are the purple ones and she is excited to think that they are going to Africa. Thank-you Sydnee for your help in getting Crocs for the children of Congo. Your help is much appreciated.

Planes, Boats and Automobiles!

2008-03-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

Congolese Lady on the Island of Idjwi

The journey from New Brunswick to the Democratic Republic of Congo is a long one. Here is our travel itinerary:

The Snow in Arthurette, New Brunswick

On Tuesday morning, April 1 we will load up all the Crocs that have been collected in Canada will be loaded into our car and we will drive 7 hours to Clinton, Massachusetts where all the Crocs collected in the USA have been collecting. These too will be loaded up and on Wednesday morning, April 2, we will drive the hour to Logan International Airport in Boston where we will get on a plane to Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta we will have a 2 hour transit after which we will board a plane for a 19 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa--we board the plane at 15h45 on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta and we arrive in Johannesburg at 16h45 on Thursday! We will spend the night in Johannesburg and then on Friday afternoon we leave for a 5 hour flight to Kigali, Rwanda. We will spend a day in Kigali before driving 4 hours across the mountains of Rwanda to the city of Gisenyi on the north end of Lake Kivu.

On the way we will cross the Nile--Congo continental divide at an elevation of 2800 m (9240 feet).

Mount Karisimbi on the Nile-Congo Continental Divide

In Gisenyi we arrive at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cities of Gisenyi, Rwanda and Goma, DR Congo are dominated by Mt. Nyiragongo one of the world's most active volcanoes.

Mt Nyiragongo

After crossing the border into Congo we will take a boat for four hours across Lake Kivu to the Patmos Children's Village on the island of Idjwi.

Patmos Children's Village on the Shores of Lake Kivu

We will arrive at the Children's Village 5 days after we left home and after 43 hours of travel!! We will have left the snow of New Brunswick for the tropical quietude of the Island of Idjwi in beautiful Lake Kivu. Yes it is a long ways from New Brunswick to Congo!!!

Gardens Around the Patmos Children's Village

Patmos Children's Village
on the Island of Idjwi in
Beautiful Lake Kivu

Cindy's Wednesday Night Prayer Group

2008-03-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Cindy Conner is the school secretary at Chinook Elementary School here in Vancouver, Washington. She and her Wednesday night prayer group collected 29 pairs of croc shoes. I walked over to the school with DeLuca in a stroller and I had a few bags to carry the shoes home in. I got there and the bin at the school was so full I wasn't sure how I would carry them all
home. I had three heaping bags full of crocs and I stashed some in the carrier basket under the stroller. It was a juggling act to get home but all for such a great cause. Wow, I cannot thank everyone who has taken this cause to their hearts and been so generous. These orphans will be greatly blessed when they get these croc shoes in a few weeks. I will post pictures of the crocs arriving in the Congo as soon as I get them.

How Many Collected?

2008-03-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Well as of today March 25, 2008 there are 113 pairs that have been collected for these orphans. They will all be taken over to the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 2.

Thanks you everyone who has helped. You have been very generous.

Thank-you Sandra

2008-03-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sandra and the Crocs that she has collected.

Sandra Paine of Red Rapids, New Brunswick has been collecting Crocs for the children in the Democratic Republic of Congo for several weeks now. She has collected 24 pairs of Crocs! Thank-you very much Sandra!

"I have become involved with gathering Crocs through knowing Dr. Wecker. This is a project that will provide a basic necessity to children who have nothing while giving me a lot of
pleasure. Convincing people to donate is half of the fun. There must be lots of Crocs that are outgrown and yet not worn out--I just have to find them! Help has come from my friends who are members of our square dance club. Thanks guys!!!! I just love helping children. To see their smiling faces is all the thanks anyone needs."
--Sandra Paine

Look at all these Crocs! Thanks Sandra!

When we get back from Congo in a few weeks, we will have some photos for you Sandra of many smiling faces wearing Crocs on their feet!!! Thank-you Sandra.

More Crocs!

2008-03-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

DeLuca and I on our walk to pick up the crocs at Chinook!

Crocs in bags to carry home.

Crocs in collection bin at Chinook Elementary School.

Here comes some more croc shoes!

Chinook Elementary School has collected 9 pairs in the past few weeks. I walked over there with DeLuca (see Picture above) and picked up the collected crocs and brought them home. I will ship them to my brother in Boston who will store them for a few weeks. My Dad will fly out from Boston and so he will pick them up and take them over to the orphans on April 2nd. They are going to be so excited to get these shoes. You have no idea! These children have never had anything in their life and a pair of shoes even though it is important is just a luxury that they have never had until now.

THANK YOU CHINOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I was there the school secretary told me she had collected 14 or more pairs and they were at home so she will bring them in next week and I will pick them up and mail them then. So there are more on the way.

Thank you Glenda

2008-03-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

Glenda (my Dad's cousin) in British Columbia, Canada has gotten involved in this project. She has been very generous and just sent 17 pairs of Crocs to my Dad so he can take them over in April. Here is a little about how she went about helping with our project:

"My mom and I take my house bound auntie, for lunch once a week. She loves to have something to look forward too and we enjoy spending some time with her. Last week, I told my mom and my auntie that I wanted to send some Crocs to Barry Wecker's ( my cousin) project for the children in Africa. They both quickly replied that they would like to help too. What fun it was to stop in at a local store and pick out some fun colours and sizes of the shoes. Both women love to help out with mission projects and, having been teachers in their working years, love to see children happy!"

Thanks again Esther, Beth and Glenda!

Thanks Kim

2008-03-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

When I first started this project I posted some ads on craigslist asking for any donations of crocs anyone could spare and the first response I got was from Kim. She donated the little red crocs seen here on this orphans stuffed animal. Here is a little about Kim and her daughter:

“I found out about Crocs for Orphan Tots on Craigslist. My daughter had outgrown a pair of her crocs and being a social worker, I always look for ways to help others out. After her first pair was sent over, a picture of them on a beloved stuffed animal of a tot showed up on the blog. My daughter, Emily was so excited about it, that she decided to have her other pairs of crocs sent over too! I enjoy the idea of helping others and it allows my daughter to learn the same value.”

Above you can see pictures of her daughter enjoying her Crocs. Isn't she adorable!

Thanks Ariel.

2008-03-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

My sister's friend Ariel has collected 10 pairs of crocs for the children. Way to go and thanks a million. She is a grad student in Florida. She has done an amazing job. Thank you!!!!!!!

Thanks Kathy!

2008-03-04T21:55:00.000-08:00

My friend Kathy took this project to her School PTSA board meeting tonight and they voted to agree to help collect crocs for our project. So a BIG THANK YOU to Chinook Elementary School.

This is a lot of fun involving our local community in the larger world community. I will keep you updated on the progress of this school's involvement.

If you want to get your own school involved as well, no matter where your school is, just contact me and I will let you know what you can do. I will feature your school croc collection updates on the blog as well. The children from your school will be able to see their shoes put to good use when they arrive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Footwear Tasks!

2008-03-04T21:34:00.000-08:00

Children's footwear in Africa is also going to be exposed to lots of wear and tear. Each of the children hope for one pair of footwear and this pair will be used, rain or shine; at work and at play.

These children carry water daily for they basic needs. If they need to go anywhere they walk as there are no vehicles for transportation. These children walk to school, they also try to fit in as much play in the day as they can. The sport of choice for most of the children is "football" (soccer). Most of the time soccer is played with a banana leaf ball that the children make themselves (see picture again).

When is the Next Trip to Deliver the Crocs?

2008-02-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

The trip is scheduled to leave on April 2nd, 2008. PLEASE HELP ME collect more Crocs by then. I have 4 pairs as we speak and I would like to have at least 20 pairs.

Crocs Update!

2008-02-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

I just received word from the orphanage about the crocs. They have never had such great shoes for these children as the Crocs we have sent. They said that most of the shoes that have been donated in the past (flip-flops, sandals, sneakers) just have not held up and most of them don't last more than a couple of weeks due to the rough terrain, but the Crocs are doing great.

One of the biggest head aches in the past for the orphanage director has been keeping these children in footwear. We are hoping to change that with everyones help.

Keep them coming!

How did I become involved with this project?

2008-02-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

When I was 6 y/o my parents moved from Kentucky in the United States to Rwanda, Africa where my father took a post as a physician and hospital administrator at a mission compound called Mugonero Hospital. It was 6 hour drive from the capital city of Kigali at about 10 mph, over the worst roads (if you can call them roads) imaginable. Mugonero being very remote was one of the most breathtaking places on earth. It was on a hillside overlooking Lake Kivu and in the distance at night you could see the faint lights of the Island of Idjwi in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the middle of the lake.

After a few months my father became frustrated with a few things. First, the locals did not travel away from their villages to seek help at a western hospital until it was too late to help them, and most of them died from preventable diseases like dysentery or malnutrition. Also most Rwandans had never seen foreigners ("abazungu") before and were timid of seeking their help. So my father started to think of a plan of how to help them solve some of their most basic health-care problems.

He wrote up a proposal for a grant to fund his plan and it was accepted. So we moved to the capital city of Kigali so he could get the project going. First, he trained locals from each region to be community health care workers/educators and sent them out to their villages and communities to initiate basic primary health care changes. Children were vaccinated, latrines were built, vegetable gardens planted and growth monitoring of children was begun. The population was taught hygiene and how to care for simple diseases. They were taught nutrition and the importance of sanitation for disease control. Dad would visit the dispensaries and health centres once each monthand see the individuals that the local health care workers could not manage on their own. Anyone who needed more complicated care was sent to the hospital.

This program was highly successful at getting health care to the people of the country. They were receptive to their own local health educator/provider and they were less timid of the foreigners providing their care as they had a liason in their local provider.

Even after our departure from Rwanda this program continued to function until the genocide of 1993-1994. During that time most of the health care workers were killed and much of the health-care infrastructure was destroyed.

Désiré Murhima,one of the nurses who worked with my Dad was from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Désiré returned from Rwanda to the Congo and continued his studies in Nursing at the University of Bukavu. He began setting up clinics in the rural areas of Congo around Lake Kivu and in 1990 he organized PROLASA, a non-governmental development organization which is based out of Goma in the province of North Kivu. Désiré patterned his work in Congo after what he had seen my Dad doing in Rwanda 10 years before.

In 2000, Désiré came to Montreal, Quebec to further his education and while there, he and my Dad got together again and renewed their friendship from years before. Dad learned what Désiré was doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and together with the help of International Children's Care based in Vancouver, Washington, they began helping 200 orphaned and abandoned children in the Congo. Dad began visiting Congo on a regular basis and has been providing medical care, logisitical support, training and administrative help to PROLASA since that time.

Dad works in Canada in my hometown of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick part of the year and volunteers his time to the PROLASA projects in any way he can. He is a Medical Doctor who has his Masters in Public Health and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, so along with his vast experience he is well qualified to serve their medical needs. He travels over to the Congo many times a year always paying his own way and giving his services to the people we grew to love while we lived there.

This has all come full circle for our family and the people of this region feel like family to us. I went back to visit Rwanda in 2001 and introduced this country to my husband. The moment I stepped off the plane I knew that I had come back home!

Last year I received a PROLASA newsletter which showed the poor footwear these children had and asking anyone who could help with footwear to please do so. That is when I came up with this project to provide these children with Crocs which is a great and durable footwear that can be passed on from one orphan to the next as they outgrow them.

Why Crocs?

2008-01-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

Why am I just sending Crocs and no other shoes like tennis shoes, sandals etc...

These children live in a climate near the equator where there are two basic seasons. The dry season and the rainy season. In the dry season they deal with tons of red clay dust and in the rainy season it turns to wet mud clay. The temperature tends to be between 72 - 82 degrees (F) year round regardless of the season.

Some shoes have been sent over there in the past and just don't hold up. The stitching doesn't hold, Velcro quits working from the clay like dirt buildup, leather gets wet and cracks or shrinks, the soles peel away from the upper shoe due to the rough terrain wear. I thought that the Crocs would be the best compromise for these children. They are durable, have no seams, and are washable. They are also cushioned and supportive enough to give good protection against the rough elements that cause injuries and infection to their bare feet.

When is the Next Trip to the Congo?

2008-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

Soon... Maybe even next month. There was a peace agreement signed recently and if all stays calm my Dad and a team will be heading over there as early as next month. I am collecting as many Crocs as I can before they leave. I would like to get a bunch more sent this time. I have 2 pairs that I am getting from the lady at the School for the Blind here in Vancouver, WA. Her daughter has outgrown them since her last pair that she gave. She and her daughter enjoyed seeing where they ended up.
PLEASE DONATE YOUR USED AND OUTGROWN Crocs FOR THESE CHILDREN!

Contact me by leaving a comment on this blog if you need information on this.

Addresses:

2008-01-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Re-posting this for your convenience.

Mail any Crocs you would like to donate to this project:

In the USA:
"Crocs for Orphan Tots"
Congo Project
2711 NE 134th Way
Vancouver, WA 98686

In Canada:
"Crocs for Orphan Tots"
2137 Route 109
Arthurette, NB E7H 4B6

How do the Crocs get to the orphans?

2008-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

I wish we could just mail the crocs as we receive them. Unfortunately if they were mailed they would probably never arrive. The mail to their region gets sifted through many times over and the Crocs would end up stolen before they even arrived. There are really only two ways to get them over there:

Ship a large container over by ship. This is very slow and expensive but is sometimes necessary to get large quantities or large items over there. This method is also very costly. It can cost in excess of ten thousand dollars for a container to be transported there. What tends to happen is that projects collect many donations and items until they have enough to fill a container and then the container will ship. So until there is enough to fill a container, nothing goes.
Hand delivered by someone or several people traveling over to the orphanage. My father goes over several times a year and takes as much as he can. That is how the last shipment of crocs arrived. The kids were so elated to have some good shoes to protect their feet.

Keep the crocs coming and we will keep you updated on this project.

Any Teachers Willing to Help out?

2008-01-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

In my hometown of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick (CANADA), population about 2000, some of the schools have gotten involved in helping collect Crocs or croc like shoes for these orphans. They have collected a few bags full of used crocs to ship over to the orphanage at the next trip over there. getting schools involved is such a great way to capitalize on recycling crocs that the school kids have outgrown. I feel that networking with schools could be one of the best ways to tap into collecting these outgrown Crocs. I do not have any children in schools in my area but would like to ask anyone involved with schools (teachers, parents etc...), could you get involved with this type of project at your school and collect used crocs? Maybe send a note home with the children asking if they have any crocs or fake crocs they have outgrown. Have them bring them into school. You can keep updated on this blog to see when the crocs arrive at the orphanage. I would be willing to help ship the crocs from your town to the project. All you would have to do is collect the crocs in your area and contact me. Please feel free to contact me via this blog (just leave me a comment on this blog). Lets get involved and recycle while helping out these orphans!

But Why Can’t They Just Go Barefoot?

2008-01-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

This is a common misconception. It is true that many poor people must live without footwear in many countries in the world. If no shoes are worn the feet will toughen somewhat with callouses thickening the skin but health problems can easily be the end result.

The unfortunate truth is that many health conditions can occur even in the toughest of feet. As the skin toughens and thickens large cracks can form. Also, parasite infections such as hookworm and threadworm can penetrate the skin while constant cuts and scrapes to the feet and ankles frequently become infected. Some of these infections can even lead to ulcers which can take a long time to heal. While the hazards are not necessarily apparent from the surface they can result in major health problems for those unable to access appropriate footwear.

link to PROLASA project page.

More Photos!

2007-12-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

These are some great photos taken when the first shipment of Crocs arrives at the orphanage. The excitement is visible on each and every child face. The orphans range in age from infants to teenagers as you can see in the pictures. I can't wait to send the next shipment over to these children. My father is working on a container to ship over int he next year and I would love to have a bunch of Crocs to send at that time so keep them coming. The containers cost thousands to ship so they don't send them often but man would I love to get 50-100 pairs of Crocs to send at that time. There are 180 orphans to clothe at the orphan village so when your children grow out of their Crocs please think of sending them to the adresses in the first posting on this site. If you would like a tax deductible receipt just ask for one when you send the Crocs and one can be provided for your donation.

Unrest in the Congo.

2007-12-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

My Dad was planning to head back over to the Congo in late January or early February but unrest has become too severe. The orphan village is safe thus far as it is located on an island far enough away from Goma. The main problem is that my Father would have to travel through Goma to get there, and that is not safe. According to the Director of the program (Desire Murhima) who lives in Goma, all businesses and schools have shut down in Goma. He has said that his wife and children are out on the island for safety reasons and that he is only in Goma to wrap up loose ends. He has been in contact with my Dad and has said the fighting is heavy and that there is no more vehicle traffic in the city due to the unrest. I found a news article about the issues facing Goma. My father is planning to go back over as soon as some stability has been regained over there. In the meantime Crocs collection continues. It is only a matter of time before my Dad can make it back over there. These kids need all the Crocs we can collect. They have nothing and are so excited for anything that they receive.

The Many Uses of Crocs.

2007-11-25T18:33:00.000-08:00

The first sets of crocs arrived at the orphanage. The kids loved them. This pair was donated by someone in Vancouver, WA at the School for the Blind. They saw my post on Craigs List and emailed me and I picked them up from the school. They were a great used pair of red Crocs.

A very special orphan on the Island of Idjwi now has a pair of shoes that they shared with their stuffed animal. These children have nothing and value everything that comes their way.

PLEASE KEEP THE CROCS COMING.

UPDATE: "Crocs for Oprphan Tots"

2007-11-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

My father has been on a trip to the Congo. He took over 12 pairs of the Crocs that I had collected. He was supposed to go over with a group of 12 individuals including my Mom. They were going to be working on a project together but unrest has erupted 30km away and so the group was scaled down to a group of 3 (2 doctors and a nurse).

I received an email from Dad that said everything went well and the crocs were a great success. He said he will email me pictured when he gets back. So I will post pictures and give a more detailed update sometime soon.

Russell and Me off to school!

2007-11-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pictures from my childhood is this one of Russell and I headed to school in Mugonero. We were the only foreign children to have ever enrolled in the Local village of Mugonero school. I was in first grade.

The only school supplies we had were slates and a slate stone to write with and we were lucky as most of the local kids couldn't even afford that.

In order to go to school all children had to have uniforms. This was too much expense for many and for others they were the only pair of clothes they owned. All children, boys and girls, had to keep their heads shaved to. I started school there with long hair and a few weeks into the school year I begged my Mom to shave my head. I was tired of the kids touching my hair all the time as they had never seen a white kid before and they had never touched hair like that. I also wanted to fit in ... so my Mom cried as she shaved off all my hair. I loved it and I still think it looked better like that than when my Mom gave me poodle perms a few years latter.

If you could look through the trees behind Russell and me, you would look across lake Kivu and see the island of Idjwi where the orphans live.

Where are the Orphans?

2007-11-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

The orphans and orphanage are located in Goma and on the Island of Idjwi. The island is located in the middle of lake Kivu between the Democratic Union of Congo and Rwanda. You can see the island on this map.

Crocs for Orphan Tots

2007-11-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am looking for people who have used (still wearable) or new children’s “Crocs” (or similar croc like shoe) that they are willing to donate for a children’s orphanage in Africa. If you would be willing donate and send me any Crocs you or your children may not need or use anymore I will get them directly to the Orphans that are in need of them. Please leave a comment if you have any questions for me. All sizes needed!!! Some of the children are young and some are teens/young adults. prolasa.org is the website where you can see the orphans and read about the program. ************************************************************************ My connections to this cause:

I have a shoe obsession so why not.
I grew up in this same very poor area of Africa and I have such a fondness for the people of this region.
My father is a family practice physician who raised our family in the African country of Rwanda. He now volunteers his time for the non-profit organization (PROLASA) in the Congo near where I grew up. PROLASA runs an orphanage that he helps support and it has 180 children in its care. I just received the newsletter from my Dad requesting help getting shoes for the kids. Included in the letter was a picture in it of three of the orphan’s feet, one without shoes, one with sandals falling apart and the last one with flip flops that aren’t holding up. Looking at that picture I had a “light bulb moment” and realized the perfect shoes for that region are Crocs. They can handle water and mud in the rainy season and they are durable and cleanable. I know these would be great for these kids because I grew up playing in the same location as these children.

Please help me with this cause.

Please mail any Crocs you would like to donate to:

In the USA:
"Crocs for Orphan Tots"
C/O: R. Wecker
376 Green St,
Clinton, MA 01510

In Canada:
"Crocs for Orphan Tots"
C/O: B. Wecker
2137 Route 109
Arthurette, NB E7H 4B6