Mossy foot - The Story

Mossy Foot is a soil-transmitted disease that currently affects over 5 million Ethiopians. Mossy Foot means that the victim's feet swell up - up to 3 times the size of the initial size - and thus, the individual is unable to walk, work or be a part of the community. Most people who have experienced the disease claim to have been ostracized by society and with no hope of a better future. 

How can we prevent such a horrible disease? It's simple - shoes. Wearing shoes whilst working on soil acts as a barrier that prevents bacteria from entering the skin. However, purchasing shoes can be expensive, especially for children who grow every year - that's where we come in. 

Our aim is to create an expanding shoe that grows with a child; essentially, this means that the parents have to pay one cost that will hopefully last the child up to 5 years and expand 3 to 5 sizes. Our shoes will be made of synthetic materials that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. We hope that this will be cheaper, thus encouraging more families to invest in our product. 

Above is a picture of our very first prototype that only cost the manufacturer $3 to make!