Sole Hope-Providing shoes and medical care to children in Uganda

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Drü Collie, Co-Founder and Director of Philanthropy for Sole Hope, who highlights the nonprofit organization and their efforts to provide shoes and medical care and to restore dignity and hope for children in Uganda. The organization's mission is to "equip the vulnerable to walk in freedom from life-threatening diseases and exploitation through education, empowerment, and medical relief." During the interview, Drü shares how Sole Hope was founded after he and his wife discovered the devastating impact of jiggers, a parasitic infection impacting children in Uganda, through a YouTube video. The organization focuses on combating this neglected tropical disease in Uganda, where it is often stigmatized as witchcraft. Drü and his family moved to Uganda for six years to establish the organization, and the organization is now based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a team of employees working directly in Uganda.

Drü explains the process of Sole Hope's work in Uganda, which involves weekly village visits to wash children's feet, remove jiggers, provide education, and distribute shoes. The organization employs 48 Ugandans, including tailors and shoemakers, who create shoes from recycled denim sent from America. Drü emphasizes the importance of providing shoes, as it helps keep children in school, protects them from parasites and injuries, and addresses the stigma associated with jiggers. The organization has distributed over 370,000 pairs of shoes and operates a residential facility for severe cases.

Drü discusses Sole Hope's expansion into mental health and addiction treatment, as they've found that many of their patients in Uganda face non-physical challenges due to poverty. He explains various ways the community can support their efforts, including a $10 monthly donation program and participating in shoe-cutting parties, which are being relaunched as team-building events for businesses. Drü emphasizes the importance of taking action when seeing a problem and shares how this journey has transformed his family's perspective on life and making a difference.

Drü shares the story of Joy, a 10-year-old girl who was severely affected by jiggers, a parasitic infection. Joy was initially nicknamed "Little Duck" due to her abnormal walk caused by over 720 jiggers in her body. After receiving treatment at the Hope Center, Joy's physical and mental condition improved dramatically within a week. Her transformation not only changed her life but also impacted her village's perception of the jiggers problem, demonstrating the effectiveness of their intervention in combating this treatable disease.

Drü wraps up highlighting the ways the community can support their efforts through financial contributions, Shoe Cutting Parties, Team Building Experiences, or visiting Uganda to see the impact firsthand.

Visit https://www.solehope.org to learn more and get involved with Sole Hope.