Our Organisation

It all started with a 16 year old Montreal high school student who, after hearing a presentation on making a difference in the world, decided that every child should own a pair of shoes.  Stephanie Dotto and her friend Jennifer Goehring proceeded to collect over 1200 pairs of gently used shoes from local elementary schools with the goal of sending them to the country of Malawi in central Africa.

Determined to learn more about the plight of Malawians, they met with some local Malawian contacts and received an invitation to visit a Montreal Sister of the Immaculate Conception and a missionary couple from Scarboro Missions who were working in Malawi.  In March of 2003, after fundraising to take 400 pounds of antibiotics, vitamins, and other medicines as well as school supplies, soccer balls and Frisbees, 16-year-old Stephanie set out for 10 days in Malawi.

It was a life-altering experience.  Stephanie and her family were inspired by the people of Malawi. Since then Stephanie and her father, Laurie have been back four additional times. Karen (Steph’s mother) and Hilary Dotto (Steph’s older sister) have also been over on humanitarian trips.

In the last 8 years, with the help of Montreal businesses, churches, schools, Girl Guide units and other generous individuals, the results have been incredible.  A two new elementary school has been built and 2 other schools have received new roofs.  A small rural hospital has a new nutrition center with 2 kitchens - one for patient meals and one for teaching.  Medicines - from Health Partners International of Canada, enough to treat over 10,000 people for a year have been hand-delivered by Stephanie and her father during their trips and orphans in northern Malawi have been provided with nutritional supplements in their food.  In Southern Malawi over 600 goats have been given to families for ongoing support. At Katete AIDS project a maize sheller has been provided which the locals pay a small fee to use to prepare their maize for the local dish nsima, the profits will be used to support families affected by AIDS. Four containers full of school supplies, computers, quilts, linens for the hospitals, clothing and, yes, shoes, have also been sent and distributed to thousands of needy people. 

Stephanie has founded It All Started With The Shoes which is currently seeking charitable status.  She has given more than 150 presentations to schools and community groups to increase awareness on the plight of the Malawian people.   If you would be interested in having Stephanie speak to your group please contact her at montrealshoegirl(at)gmail(dot)com

Check out our projects for more information on our completed projects as well as some exciting new project that  you might want to get involved with.