A Day Without Dignity

Every year millions of shoes and clothing are donated to various developing countries. This practice is expensive and competes with local business.

TOMS declared 5 April a Day Without Shoes, to raise awareness to the plight of those without shoes. We propose the counter campaign, a Day Without Dignity.

Aid should start by asking communities what their needs are, rather than what will help American corporations sell an image of being socially conscious.

Full details can be found here: http://goodintents.org/in-kind-donations/a-day-without-dignity


Statistics from:
http://www.philau.edu/schools/liberalarts/news/documents/SlotterbackSET.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02190.x/abstract

A great list for better and more socially conscious shoe companies can be found here:
http://goodintents.org/in-kind-donations/socially-conscience-shoes

My blog is timegiventous.blogspot.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Day Without Dignity
• shoes
• TOMS
• SWEDOW
• charity
• donations
• aid
• africa
• good intentions are not enough
• day
• dignity
• barefoot
• day without shoes

[noizznoizz]

@wolfee317 the people who are really ignorant are the ones who fail to see beyond their marketing campaign and critically analyze the situation. How would they ever afford anything if we continue to give them handouts?

[JWillsTV]

If toms really wanted to help they could supply water pumps, food or even vaccines, I for one are damn sure that the people in Africa need those things more than a cheap ass pair of shoes especially as I have been to Kenya, in Africa myself.

[RunsLikeaNose]

Toms does not care about helping people. It doesn't cost more than 5 dollars to make a pair of Toms yet they charge you 50 dollars for it. You are essentially pay for both pairs and donating it yourself, while helping Toms make a 40 dollar profit.

[bmarusich10]

What a load of crap. Tom's use sweatshops and liberal guilt to push their substandard products. Who do they think they are kidding?

[Dankster312]

@wolfee317: It's mind-blowing that you call the people and groups here "ignorant". Some of the people behind this video and many others like them have been on the ground working alongside the poor for decades, and have learned from their own mistakes. I highly recommend the book "When Helping Hurts" - it's one of many that get deeper into the same issues discussed in this video, by people who are far more experienced in these issues than the founder of Toms.

[Dankster312]

@TexasJack78: Not shame them, educate them. If your "help" was actually making the lives of the people you want to be helping even worse, wouldn't you like to know? The principles behind this video are well-known and supported by many, many groups who have been legitimately trying to work alongside the poor for decades. Rather than supporting the wannabe do-gooders who are causing more harm than good, you should learn from the people who are on the scene.

[msdrecar]

What is one person supposed to do then?

I can't do that much by myself, because I do not have the resources so I do what I can. I try to buy locally to support American farmers, I give clothes and shoes to schools that will send it to Mexico and Africa, I buy (even though it's expensive) from organizations like Krochet Kids (which is creating JOBS for women in Uganda and Peru).

You can completely tie people's hands. At least, TOMS is making people a little more socially aware.

[graymatteson]

I don't normally respond to videos....especially one this good concerning what I believe is a ridiculous racket, with this many fantastic points. But I have to be a "typical youtube-er" and say....based off the dislikes....7 people bought TOMS.

[TexasJack78]

Donating clothing is demeaning? Invariably the same must be true of money, water and medicine... This video is philanthropic snobbery, I guess your type of help is better than another...

The person who made this video should wake the fuck up. You are honestly going to shame someone for trying to help another human being? Disgusting.

[foxycat90210]

@noizznoizz how will they be able to get jobs and work and get to a position where they can afford anything if they cant even afford/get the essentials they need to progress?

think of marslows hierarchy of needs.

u were given ur 1st pair of shoes and clothes

[foxycat90210]

when u give clothes & shoes away, u expect it to go to pple who have absolutely nothing & who wouldnt be able to buy the anyways, if they can buy them and find it demeaning then dont give it to them, give it to pple who really need it, bc there r pple out there who truely need them

[mdjorie]

@amy8937 It says the song name and author right at the beginning of the video. "Music: Moi Cote d'Ivoire, Tiken Jah Fakoly."