They're trying to tell you something's wrong

If your feet hurt, they're trying to tell you something's wrong...Listen to them!
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THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SHOE

The Construction of a Shoe

Over one hundred operations go into the construction of a shoe.

• The first and most important of these is the creation of the last.
• The last is a hand-carved wood or molded plastic replica of the human foot.
• The last determines the contour of the arch and how evenly the wearer’s weight will be distributed throughout the foot. A different last is required for each shoe style and size to be produced.
• Before a shoe can be made, as many as thirty-five measurements are taken from a footprint to show the distribution of the body weight.
• The maker judges the symmetry of the toes, calibrates the girth of the instep and ball of the foot, and calculates the height of the big toe and the contour of the instep.
• He or she must also estimate how the foot will move inside the shoe.
• All of these ratios must be addressed without compromising the architectural beauty of the shoe design.

For a heeled shoe, the maker visualizes the heel height, than determines the size of the throat. Next the appropriate height of the shoe’s quarter is established.

• If it is too high it will rub the tendons, and if it is too low, the shoe will fail to grip the foot properly.
• Crucial to the fit of a shoe is the measurement of the shank curve, including the ball and instep. This is where the body’s weight falls when the foot is in motion.
• Using the last as a guide, the pattern maker cuts out the shoe upper and lining.
• The edges are then beveled to ensure a good fit and the pieces are then sewn together. Next, a toe box is constructed, the counter is added, and the leather is soaked so it will easily conform to the lines of the last.
• The upper is positioned on the last, tautly stretching it before nailing it tightly onto the last. The upper dries on the last for two weeks before the sole and the heel can be attached.
• The final steps are to trim the welt, pare the heel, burnish the sole and add the insole lining. Last the shoe is polished and buffed, and it is ready for sale.

HOW TO SHINE A PAIR OF DRESS SHOES

Nothing undermines a nicely tailored suit like dull, worn-looking footwear. And while you can—and probably do—pay someone else to buff your oxfords to a perfect shine, there are times, especially when traveling, that you’ll need to do it yourself. Here’s how.

You will need:
A cloth or old T-shirt. An “on” brush or another old T-shirt. A toothbrush. Cream polish or wax polish. An “off” brush. A chamois, or yet another old T-shirt. Elbow grease (though really, you should polish from the wrist, not elbow).

NOTE: There are two types of polish, cream and wax. Cream makes the leather supple and wax improves water resistance. Both are fine qualities in a shoe, so it’s best to alternate between the two, using a different one each time you shine.

Step 1: Remove shoe trees and laces. Many people don’t bother taking the laces out, but it’s important to avoid getting polish on them, and to shine the tongue, which will start to look different to the rest of the shoe over time if it’s skipped.

Step 2: Put one hand into the shoe, palm down. In your other hand, with a cloth or T-shirt that is barely damp, gently wipe each shoe to remove dirt and grit; if these remain on the shoe’s surface when you shine it, the shoe will scratch.

Step 3: Make sure the shoes are dry, then apply apply the polish with an “on” brush, whose bristles are about half as short and stiffer than those on the “off” brush you’ll be using later, or with an old T-shirt (not the scratchy part with your college logo on it). Whatever you use, make sure you work the polish into every part of the shoe. You’ll probably need to go over the heel and toe twice, as these areas get the most wear.

Use a toothbrush to get polish into crevices, such as the area around the bottom of the upper, and the top of the vamp, which, unless you take taxis everywhere, is prone to creasing. Also shine the part of the sole that doesn’t touch the floor, between the heel and toe—there’s nothing more embarrassing than exposing a pair of unshined shoe soles when you wake up on the floor of an unfamiliar apartment (this may require a different-colored polish). Once you’ve worked the polish into the first shoe, set it aside for the cream or wax to sink in, and repeat these steps for the second one.

Step 4: Next, remove the polish from the first shoe with a horsehair “off” brush: this is the one time when a T-shirt won’t do, and if you’re going to be shining shoes of different colors, it’s worth getting different brushes for each one. Brush the shoe vigorously, with medium pressure. The ideal motion involves rapid movement of the wrist, with most of the arm stationary as the wrist moves the brush over the shoe in quick, short motions. Doing this means that each bit of leather receives more stokes than it would if you were moving from the elbow, which gives longer strokes. It also generates more heat on the surface of the shoe, which helps the polish sink in.

Step 5: When you’ve removed polish from both shoes with your brush, go over them with a chamois or old T-shirt, removing any excess you may have missed – pay particular attention to the top of the shoe, where polish often collects before finding its way onto your trouser cuffs later. Buff each shoe to a high shine with the chamois, admire your reflection in the toe of each shoe, and consider the job done.

 

THE ANATOMY OF A SHOE

The Anatomy of a Shoe

Breast: the front of the heel under the arch

Cap: the toecap

Counter: overlaid piece at the back of the upper

Feather: the part of the last and the shoe where the upper’s edge meets the sole

Insole: a piece of leather or other material between the sole and the foot

Puff: a light reinforcing inside the upper which gives the toe its shape and support

Quarter: the part of the back of the upper, which covers the heel

Seat: the concave part of the heel that fits into the shoe and into which the heel of the foot sits

Shank: a piece of metal inserted between the sole and the insole lying against the arch of the foot

Sole: the piece of leather or other material that comes in contact with the ground

Stiffener: the inside stiffening of the upper, covering the heel and giving the back of the shoe support

Throat: the front of the vamp

Top Piece: the part of the heel that comes in contact with the ground.

Topline: the top edge of the upper

Upper: the piece of the shoe that covers the foot

Vamp: the part of the upper that covers the front of the foot as far as the back as the joint of the big toe

Waist: the part of the last and the shoe that corresponds to the arch and instep of the foot

CARING FOR YOUR FOOTWEARS

FOOTWEAR

Footwear is made of leather because it is comfortable, supportive, naturally water-repellent and breathable. The less water absorbed by leather, the longer it will last and the more comfortable your feet will be. Once wet, leather stretches and weakens, shrinks and becomes brittle as it dries. Here are a few simple suggestions to keep footwear performing at their best for years to come.

Cleaning

The first step to footwear maintenance is regular cleaning. Small particles of dirt can work their way into the fibres of the leather causing abrasion and break down. After use, rinse off mud and dirt with tap water. To remove oil-based dirt, excess wax and stubborn grime that will not be cleaned by plain water use Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel and a nylon brush. Be sure to clean the linings of your boots with a warm damp cloth after each use as well. Salt from perspiration can pass into the lining rapidly destroying the leather making it dry and cracked.

Re-proof or add water repellency

This is important not just to keep your feet dry, but will keep footwear cleaner and maintain the leather's suppleness for improved durability. After cleaning footwear with water, apply the appropriate Nikwax waterproofing treatment to the entire shoe or boot, paying special attention to the stitching and around hardware (anywhere the leather has been punctured) to ensure complete protection from the elements. Reapply as necessary or after use in severe conditions. For best results let footwear dry for 24 hours before use.

Drying

Start by removing the laces and inner soles. Dry footwear slowly at room temperature. Do not expose shoes or boots to a direct heat source. Excessive heat can cause irreversible damage to the leather and is harmful to the adhesives used in footwear construction. To help dry footwear that has been filled with water or is thoroughly soaked we recommend stuffing it with newspaper. Replace wet newspaper and repeat until footwear is dry.

Conditioning

Conditioning footwear can reduce the break-in time for new smooth leather shoes or boots and also revive old dried out footwear. We suggest using Nikwax Conditioner for Leather, a few times a year or as needed.

New Boots

To get the best results from your new boots or shoes, we recommend the following:

Fit

New footwear should be worn indoors for a few days to ensure that you are pleased with the fit

Comfort

When breaking in new boots be sure to wear the socks that you will be using with the boot.

Time

Allow adequate time to break in your new footwear. Heavier boots may require more time to break in. Start out with short walks working your way up to longer hikes. This will help guarantee your comfort and satisfaction.

Condition

If the boots are smooth leather and you have decided  that they are a good fit then Nikwax Conditioner for Leather can be applied to help break in your new boots.

Waterproof

After the boots have been worn in the outdoors a couple of times and the factory applied DWR (durable Water Repellency) is beginning  to wear off apply the appropriate Nikwax waterproofing treatment to extend the life of your footwear.

A short interview about James onyebuchi on vanguard news paper

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/if-you-dont-have-reason-for-waking-up-sleeping-becomes-interesting-linus-okorie/facebook.com/aidinitiativeng

TOE PAIN

Toe pain is one of the most common types of foot pain. Wearing ill-fitting or narrow shoes regularly is a frequent cause for toe pain. Shoes with narrow toe boxes can cause blisters, calluses, corns, and ingrown toenails, and can worsen other conditions, including bunions, hammertoes/claw toes, and Morton's neuroma.

The five toes (phalanges) and their connecting long bones (metatarsals) comprise the forefoot. Each toe (phalanx) is made up of several small bones. The big toe (hallux) has two phalanges, two joints (interphalangeal joints), and two tiny, round sesamoid bones. The other four toes each have three bones and two joints. The phalanges are connected to the metatarsals by five metatarsal phalangeal joints at the ball of the foot.

In addition to ill-fitting and narrow shoes, other common causes for toe pain include skin conditions, such as dry, cracked skin, eczema, and psoriasis; fungal infections, such as athlete's foot; bacterial infections; frostbite (i.e., damage to the skin and sometimes the underlying tissue caused by extreme cold); and fractures and bruises.

Gout is a disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints that can cause severe toe pain. Gout usually affects the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux), the ankle joint, or the heel.

In addition to severe toe pain, gout may cause swelling, inflammation, redness (erythema), warmth, and stiffness.

TIPS ON FOOT PAIN

Overview Foot pain is very common—most people experience some type of foot pain during their lifetime. Pain can occur anywhere in the foot, including the toes, the ball of the foot, the arch, the instep, the sole, the heel, and the ankle.
The incidence of foot pain increases with age.
The three main parts of the foot are the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot.
The forefoot consists of the toes and the connecting long bones (the metatarsals).
The midfoot, or arch, consists of five irregularly shaped tarsal bones, which are connected to the forefoot and hindfoot by muscles and the plantar fascia (arch ligament).
The hindfoot, which is comprised of three joints, links the midfoot to the ankle (talus) and includes the heel bone (calcaneus). The heel is the largest bone in the foot and it joins the talus to form the subtalar joint.
The bottom of the heel bone is cushioned by a layer of fat.

Keep following post as we share most secrets on foot pain and how to prevent them.

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE LIMB AND ARM

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE LIMB AND ARM, james.onyebuchi@yahoo.com@ojamesfootwearsjames.onyebuchi@facebook.comAID Initiative,WHO,UN,

OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE LIMB AND ARM

IMPORTANT NOTICE;
 If you know any person who reside within the Axis of Ajegunle/ Apapa that has a limb or arm challenge. There is a fully functional custom-made artificial limb, free of charge (FOC) for people who cannot afford it, this is to help them live their life completely.
Visit = AID Initiative. 36, Adekeye street, Ecn bus/stop, Ojo Road, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos. For information call 08085724174, or visit www.ojamesfootwears.blogspot.com

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: WHAT IF THEIR WAS NO FOOT

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: WHAT IF THEIR WAS NO FOOT: Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle. The human foot combines mechanical complexity and structural strength. The ankle serves as foundation, shock...

WHAT IF THEIR WAS NO FOOT

Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle.
The human foot combines mechanical complexity and structural strength. The ankle serves as foundation, shock absorber and propulsion engine. The foot can sustain enormous pressure (several tons over the course of a one-mile run) and provides flexibility and resiliency. The foot and ankle contain: 26 bones (One-quarter of the bones in the human body are in the feet.); 33 joints; more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments (Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones and ligaments are fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones.); and a network of blood vessels, nerves, skin, and soft tissue. These components work together to provide the body with support, balance, and mobility. A structural flaw or malfunction in any one part can result in the development of problems elsewhere in the body (such as back pain). Abnormalities in other parts of the body can lead to problems in the feet. Parts of the Foot Structurally, the foot has three main parts: the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot. Top View of Foot Bones Side View of Foot Bones The forefoot is composed of the five toes (called phalanges) and their connecting long bones (metatarsals). Each toe (phalanx) is made up of several small bones. The big toe (also known as the hallux) has two phalanx bones—distal and proximal. It has one joint, called the interphalangeal joint. The big toe articulates with the head of the first metatarsal and is called the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ for short). Underneath the first metatarsal head are two tiny, round bones called sesamoids. The other four toes each have three bones and two joints. The phalanges are connected to the metatarsals by five metatarsal phalangeal joints at the ball of the foot. The forefoot bears half the body's weight and balances pressure on the ball of the foot. The midfoot has five irregularly shaped tarsal bones, forms the foot's arch, and serves as a shock absorber. The bones of the midfoot are connected to the forefoot and the hindfoot by muscles and the plantar fascia (arch ligament). The hindfoot is composed of three joints and links the midfoot to the ankle (talus). The top of the talus is connected to the two long bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula), forming a hinge that allows the foot to move up and down. The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot. It joins the talus to form the subtalar joint. The bottom of the heel bone is cushioned by a layer of fat.

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A human foot has either 19 or 20 muscles depending on if you consider extensor hallucis brevis to be an individual muscle, or if you consid...

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

A human foot has either 19 or 20 muscles depending on if you consider extensor hallucis brevis to be an individual muscle, or if you consider it part of extensor digitorum brevis.

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: Shoemaking in 7 minutes

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: Shoemaking in 7 minutes: Shoemaking in 7 minutes

Shoemaking in 7 minutes

LEARN HOW TO MAKE SHOES PART 2

SHOES MADE EASY

LEARN HOW TO MAKE SHOES ONLINE PART 1

this are some videos of how to make shoes manually, part 1

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: SIMPLE SECREETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND YOU H...

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: SIMPLE SECREETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND YOU H...: Foot care tends to get overlooked by a lot of people. In fact, the only time they think about their feet is when they feel pains or hurt. Fo...

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: SIMPLE SECREETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND YOU H...

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: SIMPLE SECREETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND YOU H...: Foot care tends to get overlooked by a lot of people. In fact, the only time they think about their feet is when they feel pains or hurt. Fo...

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: FREE LIMB AND ARM

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: FREE LIMB AND ARM: IMPORTANT NOTICE; If you know any person who reside within the Axis of Ajegunle/ Apapa that has a limb or arm challenge. There is a fully fu...

OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE LIMB AND ARM

IMPORTANT NOTICE;

 If you know any person who reside within the Axis of Ajegunle/ Apapa that has a limb or arm challenge. There is a fully functional custom-made artificial limb, free of charge (FOC) for people who cannot afford it, this is to help them live their life completely.
Visit = AID Initiative. 36, Adekeye street, Ecn bus/stop, Ojo Road, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos. For information call 08085724174, or visit www.ojamesfootwears.blogspot.com

SIMPLE SECREETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND YOU HEALTHY

Foot care tends to get overlooked by a lot of people. In fact, the only time they think about their feet is when they feel pains or hurt. Foot pain can rob you of a fulfilling, active life, so be sure to spend a little time caring for your feet. Here are the top 5 things you can do to keep your feet (and you) happy: 1. Dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between your toes. 2. Keep nails trimmed. 3. Don’t ignore foot pain. Your feet are trying to tell you something…listen to them!. 4. Make sure your footwear fits properly at the first instep when you want to buy a pair of footwear. 5. Be sure to support your feet and arches and keep them properly positioned and in balance with Good Feet Arch Supports. If your feet are pain-free when you walk, good for you, you’re one of the lucky few!. If, however, you are among the 85% of the population that experience foot pain, or back pain as a result of uncomfortable feet, then you need to consult a footwear solution provider today for a no-obligation, no charge!, free of charge (FOC). Like your fingerprint, your footprint is as individual as you are and can show how your body’s weight is being distributed through your feet. Good Feet Arch Supports could be just the thing you need to bring your whole body back in alignment, relieving that foot and even back pain! At ojames footwear's, the safety of your foot is our concern and we are committed to your total foot comfort. ( If you know someone suffering from foot pain, please feel free to forward them this message! ) Many foot pain problems can be relieved (often immediately!) with a personally sized pair of Good Feet arch supports. If your feet hurt, they're trying to tell you something's wrong...Listen to them! NOTE = Our research team is working hard on finding more foot/feet maintenance tips for you, so keep following our updates.

New Ways to Recycle Old Shoes

While we intend to wear flip flops until the snow hits, we’ll probably start alternating them with boots and shoes fairly soon. Fall sales are a good time to shop if you need new footgear, but there’s no excuse for tossing even the scruffiest old shoes in the nearest garbage bin–and then to overtaxed landfills. A sad and unnecessary end! Happily, there are a number of easy ways to give footwear a new life. If your sports soles have lost their bounce, Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program will take back and recycle any brand of athletic shoe. Just run your shoes over to the nearest Nike store or mail them to Nike’s recycling center in Oregon. Or check out this site for more places to send sneakers out to pasture. Kids outgrow shoes faster than hermit crabs cast off shells, and often these are lightly worn. And sometimes even older people discover that, ahem, they need a larger size. Donate lightly worn shoes of all sizes to families in need via giveshoes.org. If your Crocs have curdled, drop them in the nearest SolesUnited location where they’ll be recycled into new Crocs that are donated to people in need. If you have a closet full of the fancy stuff like heels, you've got options. Lightly used dress shoes can be donated to the Cinderella Project, a non-profit that provides gowns and accessories for prom night to girls in need. Or, see if any of your friends and relations who wear your size is interested in doing a shoe swap. It’s a great way to get rid of one pair of shoes while cheaply obtaining another.

5 ways of How to Have a Good Fashion Sense and Look Great

If you like to look good, try new things and put your outfit together, then you have a great sense of fashion! Others aren't sure on what to try, what will look good on them and what goes well together, but with this article, you can find out. Remember there are so many styles to find and wear - if one thing doesn't suit you than another will and if you want to try something different, you can. 1 Sort through your drawers /wardrobe. It may seem boring and just like a chore, but will be useful and make looking through your clothes much easier. Take out everything and put on the bed. If something no longer fits or you just don't like it anymore, then put in a plastic bag ready to take to the appreciative charity shop. There's nothing wrong with getting rid of unwanted clothes. Tutus,stripy tights and woolly jumpers may have been your thing back then, but chances are you have moved onto other stuff,which is fine. If you find clothes which are too badly ripped,damaged,stained or worn for someone to wear or ever look good again, use as rag or put them in the bin. Now to organizing. You could fold jeans, dresses or skirts in one area and hoodies, jumpers,t-shirts and vests in another. If you have a wardrobe, you could fold items such as jeans, dresses, skirts, next to that fold up hoodies and jumpers and hang t-shirts and vests up on hangers. Put your underwear somewhere private and shoes maybe in a drawer. If you find any dirty clothes, take to the washing. Iron and put away. 2 Find out about what sort of fashions/styles you're interested in. There are so many to choose from- Girly, Rock, Emo, Parisian Chic, Glamorous, Casual.. the list goes on. Also, there's prints, patterns,pictures and textures to think about. Look at the internet or magazines for inspiration, and think about how you could put outfits together. 3 Go clothes shopping! It's a perfect opportunity to seek out some bargains and find pieces you love. Don't feel that you have to go to really expensive stores- and New Look are all great as they have loads of clothes,shoes etc, as well as some great jewelry. Shop wherever you want, and you can buy anything. Some great things to own as essentials are below, as long as some others which are just for fun but will add a real interest and look to your wardrobe. *Jeans- boot cut, wide leg or skinny. *Hoodies- like jumpers and cardigans, they come in bright colors and are casually cosy. *Jumpers- forget heavy, itchy uncomfortable sweaters- a colorful, stretchy one in either V/round necked is much better. *Cardigans- so cardigans may not be your idea of fashion, but have you considered long ones? They are simple but elegant. *T-shirts/shirts/vests- some basic ones in block colors like blue, green, red, white and black are good and you could get some with really cool pictures or patterns which look great on everyone. *Dresses/skirts- they don't have to be plain or boring! Dresses with a plain top but a ruffle/any other effect skirt look amazing, and you can choose from classic styles to more modern trends. Skirts don't come in just plain black or cotton- how about a colorful pattern? One big print? High or low waistband? They aren't essential but for a party or glamorous event, they are a good choice. *Pyjamas- still look good at night time! A pair which are quite heavy should be worn in winter but for spring/summer when its getting a bit hotter, a lighter pair are good to have as spares. Find a pair with a really sweet design. *Underwear- should fit perfectly, and not be boring! There are lots of of knicker and sock styles, and bras should be supportive and so you cant' feel them very much, i.e. not too small or too big. 4 Have the right footwear. Now for shoes. Sneakers, trainers, pumps, heels, sandals etc are all in the shops. For a rock and roll twist, biker/military lace up boots look good teamed with something simple and to wear with almost anything, a pair of awesome Converse All Star in your favorite color. Shoes make a real statement, so have fun finding some nice ones. 5 Accessorize. Bead bracelets and bangles look great worn as a set. Charms are cute. Long pendants or big chunky necklaces worn against a simple top make a maximum impact. Earrings and rings are pretty. Details like flowers, stars, flowers, prints and even your favorite things look amazing on jewelry too.

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: MAINTAINANCE OF THE FOOT.

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: MAINTAINANCE OF THE FOOT.: As our foots are basically use for Running,Jumping, and Walking so also they need too be taken care of, also the same way cars are been take...

AID Initiative

project AID initiative is a unique training program, set to bring out the Ability In Disabled persons in Africa starting from Ajegunle Lagos, Nigeria.

AID Initiative

The word AID simply means to assist, we think it can be the acronym for (Ability In Disability). Definition of disability those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others PROJECT OVERVIEW Project AID Initiative is a skill acquisition program aimed at promoting productivity among specified young Nigerians; mainly on people with disability, engaging these young people in a practical skill activity and social entrepreneurial program. Presently the majority of people with disabilities suffers from stigmatization, depression and low self esteem as a result of rejections, shorn and neglect from the society.The projects’ main objective is to bring out the ability in these young people by letting them know they also can be productive to the society despite their challenges. Because often times we hear, or even read on the media about project donations and generosity of government and some prominent individuals for the disabled, but we still have a lot of them around the streets, highways begging and causing (nuisance). In response to this challenge we advice that giving arms does not improve their condition instead empowering them will go a long way in improving their livelihood and help build their self-esteem. RESEARCH ‘19 million Nigerians are physically challenged’ May 6, 2012 by Leke Baiyewu The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, a non-governmental organisation, has said about 19 million Nigerians have a form of physical disability. It decried the failure of the Nigerian constitution to protect the rights of those with physical challenges. In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the CCD Coordinator, Mr. David Anyaele, identified poverty as the major cause of disability. According to him, lack of access to quality health care, poor nutrition and environment, insurgency in the North, road accidents and polio are major causes of disability. He said, “At the CCD, we are of the opinion that more than 19 million Nigerians are living with disability. However, the National Population Commission’s Census of 2006 says 3.2 million Nigerians are living with disability; 61 per cent of this figure is above 18 years.” Anyaele further decried discrimination against people with physical challenges, which he categorised as attitudinal, environmental, institutional, and constitutional. He explained, “People show negative attitude because some see disability as a curse. They isolate, exclude, and stigmatise the less privileged. The environment is not friendly because our public buildings, transport system and academic institutions are hostile to people with disabilities. “Institutionally, the public and private sectors design their policies, products and services at the exclusion of PWDs. As at today, Sections 15 and 42 of Nigeria’s constitution are silent on discrimination against disability and most states have no disability-sensitive laws.” The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the Convention are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law. Prevention of discrimination The Article 8 of Convention stresses the awareness raising to foster respect for the rights and dignity against discrimination: 1. To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. 2. To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life.] 3. To promote awareness of the capacities and contributions of persons with disabilities. 4. Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns designed: (i) to nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities. (ii) to promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards persons with disabilities. (iii) to promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to workplace and the labour market. 5. Encouraging all organs of the mass media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention. 6. Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with disabilities. Participation rights The Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities recognised that "that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others" and that "persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society." The Convention makes participation of the disabled one of its principles, stating "The principles of the present Convention shall be:...Full and effective participation and inclusion in society", subsequently enshrining the right of disabled to participate fully and equally in the community, education, all aspect of life (in the context of habilitation and rehabilitation), political and public life, cultural life, leisure and sports.[7] States Parties should take appropriate measure such as: 1. To enables persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society. 2. In accordance with international law, to ensure that law protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials. 3. So that persons with disabilities should be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture. STRATEGIES We intend to make Project AID Initiative a youth engagement project that will involve both professionals and volunteers in our area of subjects. We anticipates achieving our set goals through a peer to peer training method and also ensuring that the skills we make available will not over rule their disability. We also intend to use the medium as advocacy against stigmatization adjacent to disabled persons and we shall leverage on partnership from established (NGOs) organizations and support from external bodies. We shall therefore recruit volunteers and seek advisory with organizations with experience working on a similar project i.e. YEC-Academy, Lagos Empowerment And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N.), Ajegunle.org (PIN), and Uncommon Man Network etc. GOALS To bridge the gap of negligence between the disabled and the society at large To help develop their self-esteem and bringing to their awareness the fact that they too can also solve problems in the society despite their challenges. To engage, empower and equip one hundred young disabled people with practical skills that have commercial value, through peer to peer training method within a period of one year and six months. IMPLEMENTATION Task 1) Research: We intend to carry out a survey to determine what kind of programs to train our prospect on and how many people will participate in the first batch of the training. Also we intend to use the result research to advice organizations and government agencies on area of concentration for the disabled in the society. However, we intend to use the result of the research as our basis for planning the project. Task 2) Planning: This stage is the most crucial because we have to design the module of the project with the mind of making it an engaging and participatory peer-to-peer program. We also intend to put together a discussion that will involve existing organization that we can work with on this project. Task 3) Publicity: We intend to create a massive awareness campaign and advocacy to stop the stigmatization against disabled persons in our society, through the use of social media, press, print media, TV and radio broadcasting stations etc. Task 4) Recruitment: The process of accepting application from prospective participant for the project AID initiative in 2013. Task 5) Implementation: We shall draw up a curriculum that will enables teach the basic knowledge of the skill and courses. Task 6) Assessment: We intend to create a mechanism that will help us measure the level of impact and achievement during and after the project. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: We intend to continue this project even after the this project year, thus we have adopted the strategy that engages every participant even after they have been trained. It has been designed to be a “train the trainer” module structure, involving everyone (peer-to-peer) as a resourceful tool for the development of our society.

SOME FOOT DECEASES

In the late 1800s and early 1900s many homes in Mississippi and other rural American states did not have indoor plumbing and had inadequate sanitary facilities. Families could rarely afford to install indoor plumbing. Many Mississippians simply did not know how proper sanitary waste disposal and clean-living conditions could prevent diseases. As a result, they were often plagued with diseases that were directly linked to improper sanitary facilities. Hookworm was one such disease. Threadlike worms Hookworms live only in sandy or loamy soil like that found in many regions of Mississippi and other southern states. See map. They cannot exist in clay or muck. For hookworms to survive, rainfall averages must be more than forty inches a year, and the average temperature must exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If these conditions exist, then the hookworm eggs hatch. After hatching, the larvae undergo two molts and transform into threadlike worms about one half of an inch long. They can then infect unsuspecting humans by boring into their bare feet or occasionally in their hands as the victim walked on or worked in the larval infested soil. The hookworm species infecting people and found in Mississippi is Necator americanus or American Killer, a species that is distributed worldwide. See map. Doctors believe this species was introduced into the United States when slaves from Africa were brought into this country. The slaves carried the hookworms in their intestines. The hookworm life cycle begins and ends in the human intestinal tract. Females may lay from 5,000 to 20,000 eggs a day after mating with the male in the host’s intestines. The eggs are then discharged in bowel movements. Sanitation practices at the turn of the 20th century were not ideal, and most rural Americans used the open outdoors as a toilet. Therefore, hookworm eggs constantly entered the soil in very large numbers. The larva can move from side to side and is most active when dew is on the ground and temperatures are warm. While moving, if the larva haphazardly made contact with a person’s bare foot or hand, it quickly bored its way corkscrew-like into the skin and began its journey to the intestinal tract. At the site of entry, often a rash erupted which caused itching. This symptom was called “ground itch” or “dew itch.” Since many Southerners did not wear shoes in summer months, hookworm larva usually penetrated between people’s toes. After making its way through the victim’s respiratory tract, the larva eventually found its way to the small intestine about one week later. Necator americanus has a pair of curved cutting plates in its mouth that allow it to attach to its host’s intestinal walls. It will live there, sucking the victim’s blood, about four to five years. Pot belly and angel’s wings People infected with hookworms often experienced a lack of energy but were not aware of the type parasite they had. In addition, coughing, wheezing, and fever sometimes developed in the victim as the larval migration traveled through the lungs. Infected people could also have stomach pains, pale yellowish-colored skin, feet that “go to sleep,” head and joint aches, weakness, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. Two classic visible signs of hookworm disease are a “pot belly”– an extended stomach – and “angel’s wings” – shoulder blades extended outward because of the host’s slumping, emaciated body. Blurred vision and a “fish-eye” stare characterized severe cases. The primary danger of hookworm disease was anemia because the worms lived on the host’s plasma and excreted the red blood cells. The severity of the disease depended on the number of worms in the person’s gut. Death could result from secondary infections because of the host’s weakened condition. Hookworms were totally dependent on humans as hosts and on humans’ unhygienic practices to continue their life cycle. Before 1900, few American physicians knew of hookworm disease. However, a zoologist from Hartford, Connecticut, Dr. Charles Wardell Stiles, studied medical zoology in Europe in the late 19th century and learned about hookworms while helping with animal autopsies and studies. Certain hookworm species live in specific animals. When Stiles returned to the United States, he worked for the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., and taught at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He continually lectured his students about hookworms and the species that infect humans. Stiles helped spread information about the parasite and health problems associated with the worm, particularly in the South. Rockefeller Sanitation Commission In 1910, with a $1,000,000 philanthropic donation from the Rockefeller Sanitation Commission for the Eradication of Hookworm Disease, Dr. Waller S. Leathers, director of public health in Mississippi, began a three-staged plan to cope with hookworm disease. Hookworm disease had been identified in Mississippi only a few years prior to the Rockefeller donation. Leathers decided that the best way to combat the disease would be through the combination of health education, patient treatment, and community cooperation. Public education on the disease was most important since large numbers of Mississippians were infested because of Mississippi’s soil and climatic conditions. As a result, areas in the state known as the Long Leaf Pine and Short Leaf Pine districts, the Coastal region, and the Central Prairie were the sections where Leathers and other doctors began their campaign against hookworm because they were the areas most heavily infested. Leathers started his program by having hookworm exhibits at the 1910 Jackson State Fair and the Harrison County Fair. He knew that thousands of Mississippians who attended the fairs would see the hookworm information and learn how to control the spread of the worms through proper sanitation. The Mississippi State Board of Health under Leathers’s direction also began distributing literature about hookworm disease to school children throughout the state. Students between the ages of six and eighteen were tested in the most heavily infested regions. Doctors discovered heavy hookworm infestations among the school children. They sent instructions home to parents on how to take proper health measures such as the need to wear shoes and how to build sanitary privies, or outhouses. Build better outhouses The State Board of Health provided instructions on how to build better enclosed outhouses so that waste products would not flow out into the surrounding soil and animals could not break in and distribute the waste. The State Board of Health even helped schools build new privies for the children. Before privies were provided, many schoolchildren in the state simply had as a school bathroom facility one side of the nearby woods for girls and one side for boys. Better health standards were stressed for all who lived in the infected areas. Mississippians of all ages reacted positively to Leathers’s efforts and they sought treatment or either improved their sanitary facility or constructed new ones. Dispensary opens in Columbia The first dispensary for treating hookworm disease opened December 18, 1910, in Columbia, Mississippi. People could go there for testing and treatment. Treatment involved a single dose of thymol to kill the worms, followed later by an enema, usually of epsom salts, to rid the body of the dead worms. Later, tetracholorethylene became the preferred treatment to kill hookworms. Dr. Charles C. Bass and Dr. Hector H. Howard organized the Columbia clinic. Their dispensary was so successful that it became the model for others throughout the state and the South. By 1912, eleven southern states had dispensaries based on the one in Columbia. The Rockefeller Sanitation Commission continued to provide funds for free clinic treatments to Mississippians until 1915. Over the five-year period, 166,623 people in 78 counties were examined in the state. The infection rate among adults was 34.1 percent and 36.7 percent among school children. Mississippians had also learned during this time to practice proper sanitary methods to prevent the spread of hookworm eggs. With these combined efforts, progress was made toward eliminating hookworm disease in Mississippi. However, hookworms continued to be a health problem in Mississippi as late as 1981 when sixty-nine cases were reported to the State Board of Health. As late as the early 1980s, some Mississippians still did not have adequate sanitary facilities; therefore, hookworms still maintained a niche in the sandy, loamy soil environment in the original heavily infested regions in the state. At the turn of the 21st century, hookworm disease is virtually unheard of in Mississippi because of education, proper sanitation disposal, and good medical practices. Deanne Stephens Nuwer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi. Posted September 2002 Suggested Further Readings Clark, Thomas D. The Emerging South. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. Savitt, Todd and James Harvey Young, eds. Disease and Distinctiveness in the American South. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1988. Savitt, Todd. Medicine and Slavery: The Diseases and Health Care of Blacks in Antebellum Virginia. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978. Williams, Greer. The Plague Killers, New York: Charles Scribe’s Sons, 1989.