A new Podo shoe workshop

Shoes protect against contact with the red earth. The feet are then not exposed to the minerals of the volcanic earth. Red earth is common in the Ethiopian highlands as well as other countries of Africa ... as well as walking barefoot, because the money for shoes is missing. This is the cause, why ca 1.6 Mio Ethiopians suffer from podokoniosis. In other countries, the disease is hardly researched.

People with podo need very large shoes for their thick feet. These sizes are not available in the trade. That's why every Podo work also includes a Podo shoe workshop. Since 6 years operates Podo e.V. a workshop in Ijaji. In February 2022 the craftsmen have a second shoe workshop in Burre (Illubabor) Opened. With the support of Podo e.V., this is to be. operated by the local health authority.

On the photo you can see the craftsmen from Ijaji setting up the leather sewing machine, one of the important tools of a shoe workshop. The starting costs of a shoe workshop including materials for 200 Pair of Podo shoes amount to approx. 3.000 €. How many leather shoes do you get in Germany?