Bible4health Missions

A SHOE-BOOT FOR AFRICAN VILLAGE

Bible4health Missions is currently appealing to all ages and industries to donate your used or new shoes for a project:

"A SHOE-BOOT FOR AFRICAN VILLAGE"

This project was launched in January 2011, it started in Zambia, we will be moving to Malawi Next year and then Zimbabwe and thereafter in more african countries.

This project is aimed at distributing a shoe or a boot to African villages,to reduce the health risks of walking barefoot.

Health Risks of Barefoot in African Villages

There are numerous risks involved with going barefoot especially in the above mentioned countries. Since there is no artificial protection of the bare foot, some of the possible issues include cuts, abrasions, bruises, or puncture wounds from glass, nails, rocks, or thorns. Poisonous plants, animals, or parasites can enter the body through the cuts on an injured bare foot, Deaths caused by snake bites, scorpions and dangerous insects, – This project is to provide free and cheap footwear in protecting the people in the Zambian and Malawian village and other African villages, were they can not afford a shoe due to the economic situation in this countries.

Hookworm larvae (found only in warm, moist climates, in most African countries), can also easily burrow through a bare human foot. Athlete's foot is also spread by people walking barefoot in places where the fungus is likely to grow, such as around farms, after the rain, near rivers, in Gardens or in the wet soil in the plying fields of the African farm.

In cold weather, shoes also provide thermal insulation, protecting against frostbite or cold due on the grass in the village footpaths . Other issues that are common in these countries as a result of frequently going barefoot include calf pain, Achilles tendinitis, or plantar fasciitis Blisters on the feet occur in especially walking on stones or gravel roads, children suffer more than adults because the adults skin has become more robust after years of walking  In addition, individuals with diabetes or other conditions which affect sensation within the feet are at greater risk of injury while barefoot. Considering the above health implications in the African village Bible4health Missions started this project to fight against these health risks of walking barefoot in the African village starting from Zambia and Malawi which has the poorest villages among the countries in the continent of African.

If you have any footwear you could like to donate to this project, You can send your donation to:

ASHOE-BOOT FOR AFRICAN VILLAGE PROJECT

In this project our main aim is to work with Bible4health Team members and the Local Chiefs in each African Country in order to reach the people in a real African village.

Collection and Packaging of Shoes and Boots

All the shoes and boots for "A shoe-Boot for African Village Project" are donated by Individuals, well wishers, friends, families, shoes shops, shoe factories, workers in warehouses, churches, Christian groups, and supermarkets. The collection and packaging is currently done in the United Kingdom only.

All shoes and boots, except for the new ones, undergo odour removing and disinfecting process before they are packed for shipping.

The shoes or boots are packed and labelled by our warehouse staff according to the information we receive from members of Bible4health Teams, who are independent program organisers who are paid registered members of Bible4health Teams, to organise Bible4health Missions programs, projects and other activities in their communities or country. The label on each box of shoes or boot has the name of the country, the Chief where the person receiving the shoes lives, the name of the person receiving the shoes or boot, the size of the shoe or boot and lastly the name of Bible4health Team member who will deliver the package to the Chief, who will arrange the day when all the recipients will gather at the designated place in the same Chief’s area to receive the boxes of shoes.

Distribution

Bible4health Missions distributes the shoes or boots through members of Bible4health Team members. Bible4health Team members  work with the local Chiefs to identifiy who needs shoes or boots in that chiefs area.

There are eight (8) steps in this project in the distribution of the shoes in the african village;

1. Bible4health Missions will not establish A shoe-Boot for African Village Project in any African country unless one of the citizen of that country is a paid registered member of Bible4health Teams and chooses to participate and organize A shoe-Boot for African Village Project, in his/her area or country. When such an individual is identified, then Bible4health Missions will begin the process of establishing the project in that country, with his /her help.
2. Discussions and arranging with relevant authorities and organizations
   
3. Introduction of the project to the Local chiefs by Bible4health Team member
4. Collection of data and information from the Chiefs area, that is, who needs the shoes or boots, their names and sizes
5. Data and information is sent to Bible4health Missions UK office to be used for packaging and shipping
6. When the shoe boxes, which shall be shipped to The Brave in either crates or containers, arrive in the country of destination, Bible4health Team member shall open the crate or the container and not the shoe boxes. Shoe boxes shall be sealed with Bible4health missions seal. If this seal is found to be broken before the box reaches the person who name is on the box, the shoe box should be returned to UK office by Bible4health Team member. The only person who will break the seal is the person whose name is on the box in the presence of either the chief him/herself or any other person(s) assigned by the chief to witness the opening of the shoes boxes.
7. Bible4health Missions will put a package within the crate or container addressed to Bible4health Team member, the contents of this package will be for Bible4health Team member and his/her immediate family members. Bible4health Team member will decide either to sale or to keep whatever will be in the package. Bible4health Missions purpose of this package is for Bible4health Team member to sale so that he/she can offset some of the project's expenses.
8. When the distribution is complete for that particular consignment, Bible4health Team member is required to send all the reports to our Country representative who will forward all the reports to head office. The reports shall include;

1. Shoe or Boot boxes distribution
2. If Bible4health Team member used his/her person funds all receipts should be sent to our representative who will verify the figures on the receipts and the origin of the receipts. Then receipts will be sent to head office in UK for  process a refund. Refunds are paid out twice in the year, in June and in November. We do not refund any amount below US $50, since the package will cover this expenses and above US 200.00. Please note that If the expenses will be above US $200.00, a budget request should be submitted before the crate or container arrives.

Shoe or Boot Box Contents

1. A pair of Shoes or the Boots
2. Religious material (eg., Bible or Steps to Christ, or Hymn book, or Tracts and etc)
3. Health material (eg; pamphlets, or books on health, or health posters and etc)
4. If available, toys for children, or children school material

The Brave 

2011