Footprints in Africa
Going the Distance!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Footprints in Africa, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to aiding the people of Africa, in poverty-stricken communities, with necessities needed to maintain a standard quality of life.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Sponsor A Mingi Child
In Africa, amongst the Omotic-speaking Karo and Hamar people of southern Ethiopia, children born perfectly healthy, full of life, and with great potential are deemed ritually impure for superstitious reasons, such as the following reasons, known as Mingi.
- Teeth Mingi: Children are declared Mingi if their top teeth come in before their bottom teeth or if one of their baby teeth chips, even if it took place due to an accident, such as playing.
- Girl Mingi: Babies born out of wedlock are labeled Mingi by tribal Elders.
- Woman Mingi: When couples are married but do not have their marriage or pregnancy approved by the Elders, their babies could be declared Mingi.
- Twin Mingi: The birth of twins is considered a curse, and both babies may be declared Mingi.
Being declared Mingi means the child must die because the Elders believe evil spirits will bring ill fortunes, such as drought, famine, disease, and death, to their villages if a Mingi child is allowed to live amongst the land and its people.
Thankfully, more than 50 children have been rescued from a tribal killing, sheltered, and cared for in South Omo Valley in Jinka, Ethiopia, at a local group home. In an effort to help assure these children grow up to be vital adults that will one day be impactful leaders, we ask that you Sponsor a Mingi Child. For just $37 a month, equivalent to a cup of coffee a day, you can help provide love, nourishment, shelter, clothing, and education to an underprivileged child.
Sponsor a Mingi Child @ https://www.footprintsinafrica.org/sponsor-a-child.
Soles for Africa
Soles for Africa is a community-based program that allows the community to donate their gently used sneakers. In doing so, we provide those living in remote areas of Africa access to the footwear they need to stay healthy, which helps prevent diseases from spreading.
Shoes are essential in remote areas where parasitic diseases are common. Going barefoot in these regions can lead to illnesses caused when parasites infect the unprotected feet, which can debilitate or cripple children and adults, leaving them unable to care for themselves. Unfortunately, shoes are often in short supply or unaffordable for people in these regions, leaving them vulnerable to easily preventable diseases.
Additionally, kids need a good pair of shoes to attend school. Getting shoes from our Soles for Africa program can mean the difference between a solid education and a continuing cycle-of-poverty.
Shop Footprints in Africa
Our online store is more than just an eCommerce space for retail exchange. It's an impactful initiative and another way in which we uphold our mission and vision.
We carry authentic African items, straight from the Motherland; (except for our brand items, of course), which is our way of supporting small businesses in Africa.
When you shop our online store, you can shop with confidence, knowing that you're purchasing an authentic African item made by talented African Artisans. In doing so, your purchase(s) helps sustain small businesses, preserves families, supports education, and invests courage into vulnerable communities throughout Africa.
Shop today @ https://www.footprintsinafrica.org/shop-1.
Igniting Dreams
So we, here at Footprints in Africa, have decided to be a conduit of helping dreams come true. We've rolled out a new initiative called Igniting Dreams, where we're literally bringing light to a dark area for most living in poverty-stricken communities in Africa. To do so, we're randomly sowing seed into individuals in Africa with an obvious gift, talent, or calling; that's undoubtedly stifled due to lack of financial means.
We are very well aware that this initiative won't reach the masses of those in Africa, but we believe it's still well worth it for the number of individuals that will reap the benefits. And remember, light propels; it bounces and projects on the people and things around it, often resting in place for an extended period of time. Just perhaps, others will indirectly benefit as well.
Our first recipient is Lamin Sabally, from The Gambia. Follow us closely on all social media platforms as we share his story.
*Note, we are not accepting applications for this initiative at this time. We are handpicking individuals as we come across them during our travels.
Celebrating Black Kenyan Tea Farmers
We are proud to announce that Footprints in Africa is now a Collaborative Partner of JusTea!
We're constantly working on ways to aid those in Africa while keeping in mind that it has to make sense, be one of impact, but more importantly, sustainable. So joining forces with JusTea was a no-brainer for us; because they get it.
Unbeknownst to many Americans, Kenya, an East African country, is the largest exporter of tea in the entire world. Sadly, most of the tea is plucked from the small family farms, leaving the farmers only 1% of the profits, while lion shares go to large-scale processors; that grind the tea for lower-quality tea bags (which most of us have in our homes). However, JusTea has not only cultivated a Western market for Kenyan tea, but they also invest in the equipment and education for farmers to process the tea themselves, keeping the integrity of its high-quality and making it possible for the farmers to earn sustainable profits they justly deserve.
With much respect and appreciation for the JusTea project, we seized the opportunity to collaborate. By doing so, we're able to offer a variety of organic tea blends in our online store, which are Locally Grown - Hand-Picked - Ethically Sourced - Naturally Organic - Whole Leaf; from black farmers in Kenya. In doing so, we're not just supporting the local farmers. We're helping make employment possible for more than 200 Kenyans (80% women), thus breaking the systemic aid dependency. We're proud to be part of the JusTea family, creating jobs so people can earn a steady wage and that money can circulate in the village, boosting the local economy during a time needed most.
Prayerfully, you'll support this project by ordering your tea from us @ https://www.footprintsinafrica.org/shop-1. We have a number of delicious blends for you to choose from, and they each come with a beautiful wild olive wood spoon hand-carved by Kenyan Artisans for a fair wage.
Life Gardens in Kenya
Footprints in Africa is Transforming the Lives of Over 1,500 Students & Teachers in Kenya!
We know that our African brothers and sisters are masters at cultivating the land and bringing forth crops, but that's not the issue. The problem is they arenโt growing nutrient-dense foods. Their main priority is to get something in their bellies, which means consecutive meals of processed white grains and corn. But, developing brains and bodies are hungry for micronutrients, which is what our Life Gardens provide (nutrient-dense, life-giving foods, and proven natural medicines) along with a sustainable source of potential income generation.
We're basically taking what they've been doing for generations and fine-tuning the process to provide much-needed nutrients, a stream of income, and sustainability, even during drought season.
๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ($๐๐)
Each school Life Garden is approximately 80 garden beds (100 sq ft each). These bio-intensive, nutrition-producing beds provide enough food to feed 125 students every day.
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ & ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ($๐๐๐)
Once the garden beds are dug, prepared, and ready, seeds are needed to get started. Within 30 - 45 days, school children will reap the fruits of their labor as produce becomes available for harvest.
๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ($๐๐๐)
You can make a difference and sponsor all the tools, seeds, supplies, and Organic Trainer costs (training, transport, communication, etc.) for an entire School Community Life Garden.
Join forces with us, contribute any amount towards our commitment of sponsoring 12 schools (1 garden each) @ https://fundrazr.com/71pPD8, thus feeding 1,500 children and teachers; daily in Kenya. And by all means, contact us with any questions you may have.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Amazon (Affiliate Partner) 2020
MahoganyBooks (Affiliate Partner) 2020
Urban Intellectuals (Affiliate Partner) 2020
Together SC (Member) 2021
Inspiration To Charity 2021
JusTea (Collaborative Partner) 2021
Thrive for Good (Collaborative Partner) 2021
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of meetings held with decision makers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of African descent
Related Program
Shop Footprints in Africa
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We carry authentic African items, straight from the Motherland, which is our way of supporting small businesses in African Artisans. We currently have nearly 100 items on our website from Africa.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planHow we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Hereโs how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We're committed to aiding the people of Africa, in poverty-stricken communities, with necessities needed to maintain a standard quality of life. We do so by providing those living in remote areas of Africa access to the footwear they need to stay healthy, which helps prevent diseases from spreading. We provide sponsorships for Mingi children, which helps provide love, nourishment, shelter, clothing, and education to underprivileged children. Also, our online store is more than just an eCommerce space for retail exchange. It's an impactful initiative and another way we uphold our mission and vision by carrying authentic items straight from the Motherland, which is our way of supporting small businesses and African Artisans in Africa.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Suggestion box/email, We have direct contacts in the remote areas we serve.,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Although we've had to pivot like most organizations during such unprecedented times due to COVID, we are yet to make any changes based on feedback from those we serve. Thankfully, our reach has been impactful, and feedback hasn't warranted any changes at this time.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
We've found that asking for feedback from those we serve makes them feel valued and heard. It has truly changed the dynamics of our work. The relationships are more of collaboration and not a handout.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on peopleโs interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Footprints in Africa
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Ms Tammy Darmel Moore
Footprints in Africa
Term: 2020 - 2022
Angela Oglesby
Footprints in Africa
Sajion Moore
Footprints in Africa
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/10/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that oneโs race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.