- Located in West Africa, Liberia has experienced huge impacts from its 14-year civil war including 150,000 deaths and 850,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. - Poor public health and sanitation, as well as lack of shoes, leave many Liberians vulnerable to diseases that can enter through the feet such as podoconiosis and schistosomiasis. - While other organizations donate used shoes, Eco Steps teaches people in Liberia and beyond to make their own shoes using low-cost, locally available materials in order to gain independence and prevent disease.

1. ECO STEPS: FOR A BETTER FUTURE Claire Brady, Jennifer Sieben, PranavPrabhakaran

2. INFORFORMATION ABOUT LIBERIA Located on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of West Africa. Liberia is bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. It is comparable in size to Tennessee The president is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf The population is: 3,685,076 Natural resources: Iron ore; rubber; timber; diamonds; gold;tin; possible offshore deposits of crude oil. In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of civil war

3. CONTINUED… The civil war had a huge toll on Liberians; 150 000 Liberians were killed and 850,000 fleeing into neighboring countries such as: Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ghana. The security situation is still volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war torn country remains sluggish. Liberia has extremely poor standards of public health.

4. WHY DO WE NEED SHOES? Shoes can offer protection and comfort to countless people in Liberia who lack these essential needs. For people in developed nations, shoes are regarded as a customary possession and are not seen as a privilege to own. This is not the case for many people in the Liberia Proper sanitation cannot be placed under highpriorityin a nation that struggles to fight unstable government and economic issues

5. THE NEED FOR SHOES method of transportation is largely by foot and most natives cannot afford foot protection There are many diseases and parasitic infections that can be contracted through the feet. One common disease that one could receive by walking barefoot is Podoconiosis, or "mossy foot” This gruesome disease can easily be prevented by wearing some type of foot protection to keep ones feet separated from the soil

6. WHY DO THEY NEED TO WEAR SHOES? Schistosomiasis is anotherdisease caused by parasitic worms. It affects 200 million people worldwide including much of Africa. This disease consists of worms growing inside the blood vessels of the body and producing eggs. Repeated infections can damage the liver, intestines, lungandbladder simply wearing shoes can minimize the occurrence of this disease

7. SHOES = SCHOOL In regions of Africa, a child is required to wear a pair of shoes; otherwise they are denied a proper education.

8. ORGANIZATIONS Shoe4Africa gives shoes and education to Africans Heart and Sole MSU collects shoes to send overseas to needy people Shoes 4 Souls collects shoes from people and then gives them to people in need.Over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States

9. MORE ORGANIZATIONS One World Running collects shoes and donates them to those in need of running shoes The Shoe Bank collects shoes and donates them to those in need around the world

10. SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? There is a vast difference between Eco Steps and all those other shoe organizations. Instead of providing shoes just for those who need them, we provide them with a process to make their own shoes. This enables children and adults around the world to make their own shoes using materials that they can effortlessly find everyday. This process will help prevent diseases and provide education to children all over the world.

11. WHAT’S THE PROCES? 1)Obtain proper amount of spandex material and same amount of felt. Also, scissors thread and needle. 2) Create a template based on the lowest shoe size that your shoe would fit for all 4 different pieces. 3) Cut out each template from both spandex and felt and two of side pieces. 4) Partition the felt so that the shoe has the ability to stretch.

12. CONTINUED… 5) Stich the felt pieces onto the according spandex pieces without space between each piece. 6) Stich the spandex pieces together so the shoe takes form. 7)cut out appropriate sized sole out of rubber piece 8) Partition the rubber sole according to the felt pieces of the bottom piece and attach with glue.

13. THE PROCESS

14. CONTINUED…

15. INVENTOR DRAWINGS

16. MORE INVENTOR DRAWINGS