Setting an example against poverty with sports

Climbing the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania had an important, overriding goal. Together with a group of around 20 participants, the two health shoe entrepreneurs Karl Müller and Claudio Minder raised over 300’000 CHF for a local mother-child project.

 

Karl and Claudio were drawn to Tanzania, because they wanted to pay respect to the origin of the health shoes, which were inspired exactly 25 years ago by the upright and natural gait of the Massai nomads, and, in addition, to raise sponsorship money for the poorest in the region.

 

Karl and Claudio with the Massai in traditional robes.

 

In collaboration with the Christian relief organization “Compassion”, the Joya founders support a mother-child project. With the donations already collected, they will support more than 300 mothers and newborns for an entire year, so that they can receive optimal medical care and be freed from poverty. "As entrepreneurs, we want to leave our mark on our society, but we also want to set an example against extreme poverty," says Claudio Minder.

 

"We were able to see a deep joy for life in the sparkling eyes of these children. Despite extreme poverty, they are grateful for the tiny little things in life. This makes everyone aware of how privileged we are and what really matters in life," Karl and Claudio explain.

  

 

More impressions and memories about their unique experience in Tansania in the TV report of Tele Top here:


From Säntis to Kilimanjaro

Setting a sign against poverty with sporting commitment - in the luggage health shoes and sponsorship money for a mother-child project on site. Together with a group of around 20 participants, the two shoe manufacturers from eastern Switzerland, Karl Müller and Claudio Minder, set out on their journey. The adventure from Säntis to Kilimanjaro leads Karl and Claudio to the origin of their health shoes. As early as 25 years ago, nomads from the Serengeti Savannah in northern Tanzania inspired Karl Müller III, an inventor from eastern Switzerland, to develop a shoe with a particularly rounded sole, which he christened MBT - short for Masai Barefoot Technology. His son, Karl Müller IV, explains: "The Masai, who live at the foot of the 5,895-meter-high Kilimanjaro, are nomadic people who can easily walk long distances barefoot in a very natural gait. This has been a major influence on us in the development of our health shoes." The East Swiss health shoes turn 25 years old this year, because of which the founders Joyas also want to be socially involved and set a sign against poverty. That's why they are climbing Africa's highest mountain, testing a new sole technology and collecting sponsorship money for the poorest in the region where it all began. As of today, more than CHF 280,000 has already been collected on the donation barometer. The preparations for the ascent of Kilimanjaro have been going on for the two founding friends for half a year now and they do not underestimate the physical challenge.

Read more →

From Säntis to Kilimanjaro

Setting a sign against poverty with sporting commitment - in the luggage health shoes and sponsorship money for a mother-child project on site. Together with a group of around 20 participants, the two shoe manufacturers from eastern Switzerland, Karl Müller and Claudio Minder, set out on their journey. The adventure from Säntis to Kilimanjaro leads Karl and Claudio to the origin of their health shoes. As early as 25 years ago, nomads from the Serengeti Savannah in northern Tanzania inspired Karl Müller III, an inventor from eastern Switzerland, to develop a shoe with a particularly rounded sole, which he christened MBT - short for Masai Barefoot Technology. His son, Karl Müller IV, explains: "The Masai, who live at the foot of the 5,895-meter-high Kilimanjaro, are nomadic people who can easily walk long distances barefoot in a very natural gait. This has been a major influence on us in the development of our health shoes." The East Swiss health shoes turn 25 years old this year, because of which the founders Joyas also want to be socially involved and set a sign against poverty. That's why they are climbing Africa's highest mountain, testing a new sole technology and collecting sponsorship money for the poorest in the region where it all began. As of today, more than CHF 280,000 has already been collected on the donation barometer. The preparations for the ascent of Kilimanjaro have been going on for the two founding friends for half a year now and they do not underestimate the physical challenge.

Read more →