Soul of Africa is a self-sustaining organization that creates employment and training to unskilled women in areas of Africa most affected by the AIDS epidemic. Initiated and sponsored by Clarks England and Froggie, this program helps to educate women and teaches them new skills, such as how to hand stitch leather soccer balls and shoes, the proceeds of these products help to fund organizations that assist in helping the women and orphaned children in these disadvantaged areas. All of the women are paid fair trade wages for their labor and the soccer ball produced carries health awareness messages that the children can observe and learn from. The goal of Soul of Africa is "to enable the local villagers to make and or repair the product whilst improving the developing community life."
Every other week I will highlight a worthy charity that uses production as a means to empower and educate disadvantaged communities around the world. In a time when much of our consumer products are manufactured using socially irresponsible business practices, it is important to realize that big business can be a vehicle for positive global change, and as citizens of the planet we have a right and responsibility to demand a higher moral standard from the corporations that outfit our lives.
