Imagine you have a non profit idea that can put shoes in the feet of the whole world. And someone asks you "why?". What would you answer?

I am not sure I have that answer for you. I do know there are quite a few rather large efforts underway that address this issue and http://shoesforhumanity.org/ is one of them. Maybe they will have a good answer for you.

TOMS.

Why would one implement an idea that would provide shoes for the world?

Well my first response would be “Why the fuck not?”

And if I had to elaborate to this sad person, questioning the motives for charity, I would probably say something along the lines of, “Global Civilization, Solidarity, Humanity, you know, all those things that set us apart from the wild beasts.”

“Take of your shoes. Okay? Done. Now go walk around on some glass and detritus for a few hours. Sucks, doesn’t it? That’s why I’ve started a shoe charity.”

I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with this. It’s even a nonprofit, so it’s not like you are forcing people to get involved with it.

People usually get the the ‘why’ part. What’s frustrating when they launch into a litany of how it won’t work. The best ideas make it to fruition with a lot of brain-storming and strategic planning. Once it’s all mapped out, then it’s time to market it. If someone pitches a new idea and has a logical answers to address any doubts, it typically takes off.

Why? I dunno, maybe because there are countless amounts of people in poor countries who don’t have shoes. If you don’t have shoes infection and disease are more rampant. It’s not a cosmetic thing to have shoes, it’s a necessity. I’m not talking about people who have money to burn on a couple hundred shoes they’re gonna just dump in their closet, no I’m talking about people who need shoes.

For the same reason that we should try to put food into the stomachs of the whole world first.

To help people, of course.

Although, I’d leave up to my beneficiaries whether they wanted to wear them or not. Shoes are not alway appropriate.

Question: are they asking “why help people?” or “why are shoes a big deal?” or “why focus on shoes when so many people can’t eat?”

To the first – don’t bother answering.
To the second – tell them what happens if people don’t have shoes.
To the third – I hope you have an answer to this… but I’d guess its something like “this is a problem we can actually solve. I know this because I have this idea….”

To keep people’s feet from bleeding.

Because I have a boot-iful sole, glad to be of service.

shoes in the feet?

I would like to pointr out that there are some peoples in some parts of the world that don’t feel the need nor have the desire. But I love the idea forge on soldier.

What good will shoes do for dead people? 20,000 people starve to death EVERY SINGLE DAY. They can’t eat shoes.

@YARNLADY I don’t know the details, but there are number of possible reasons to pursue this:
1) You have a great cheap way to get everyone shoes. Sometimes solving a less important (but still important) problem for everyone in a cheap way can be better than solving a more important problem for a few people. Of course, this depends on the quality of the OP’s original idea… but it might be spectacular idea.
2) There might be enough people working on hunger and adding more to the mix might not help.
3) Maybe some people will get involved with shoes that wouldn’t with world hunger. Better to use their resources to solve some problem than to let it go to waste.
4) I’m not sure who is getting the shoes, but surely shoes allow people to travel more, which will help them to get food (via hunting maybe…). Might also prevent certain kinds of disease.
5) Maybe people the OP knows (or has some special empathy with) need shoes. This might be the inspiration for the idea.

@roundsquare Thank you for your intelligent response. I get carried away with the world hunger situation, and I missed the very valid points you have made, especially shoes might actually enable starving people find food. If nothing else, they could sell them for a bite to eat.

Awesome answers everyone! Thank you SO much!

I hope to share more information rather soon, I promise.

In the meantime @roundsquare what does OP mean?

:)

@rexpresso Opening/Original Post/er