T!mmy D

 

 

 

Last year I attended a conference that included a guest speaker from an organisation called TOMS, his name is Blake Mycoskie. TOMS is committed to putting shoes on children who live life without shoes. It was an inspiring talk and challenged me to respond so I went and bought myself a pair of TOMS that look like this:

 

 

 

I am not one to just go to a conference, hear someone speak and then go and buy their book or whatever they are involved in but in this case I was so challenged and I saw such a positive impact through buying a pair of shoes.

Below is some information about TOMS, a poem video that challenges about helping those in need and also the website for Toms. I would love you to contact me if you end up buying a pair of TOMS shoes.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential.

With every pair purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.

As of September 2010, TOMS has given over one million pairs of new shoes to children in need around the world.

WEBSITE for Toms: www.toms.com

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Generation expert, Tim Elmore, believes that those who work with young people today need to pay attention to the way we relate if we are to correct some of the damage that has been done with this generation. After working with thousands of parents over the years, Tim has spotted eight damaging parenting styles that dads and mums can fall into without even knowing it. Some are unique to this generation while others have existed for years.

1. Helicopter Parents – they hover too close.

2. Karaoke Parents – they try hard to be cool.

3. Dry-Cleaner Parents – they drop their kids off for others to raise.

4. Volcano Parents – erupt over minor issues.

5. Dropout Parents – let their kids down.

6. Bullied Parents – can’t stand up to their kids.

7. Groupie Parents – treat their children like rock stars.

8. Commando Parents – let rules trump relationship.

(From iGeneration iY- Our Last Chance to Save Their Future)

www.savetheirfuturenow.com is a worth checking out for further insights from Tim Elmore