Our impact
We all love to look good (and not necessarily spend a lot of money), but the price of our appetite for cheap and throw away fashion comes at a cost to someone somewhere. Developing a label that was socially conscious and reflective of our social ethics was important to both of us. We wanted to make sure that every aspect of our design and manufacturing was supportive, symbiotic and mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
Our partnership with ANPPCAN (The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect) emerged when we met Wambui, one of the inspiring and dedicated directors of ANPPCAN who first brought to our attention the extensive problems of child trafficking in Kenya.
We had the opportunity on our second trip to Nairobi to visit the Mathare Outreach Primary School, located in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, one of the biggest slum areas in the country. This visit was eye opening, enlightening and life changing. We met with Joseph the principal of the school and learnt about the great work that the partnership between the school and ANPPCAN had resulted in, in preventing the horrors of child trafficking. So naturally when Collective Closets became a reality, we wanted to give our customers the opportunity to support this worthwhile cause.
Since the role out of the program in 2014 "Contributing to the elimination of urban child trafficking in Kenya", schools such as the Mathare Outreach Primary School have been supported to readmit 270 children who had earlier dropped out of the school and were at risk of being trafficked in Mathare communities. Importantly, the programme removes victims of child trafficking from their circumstances, which may involve, among the most common, child labour and sex trafficking.
ANPPCAN is the organization at the forefront of child trafficking prevention in Kenya, providing education to eliminate urban child trafficking through provision of education, research, community awareness and advocating for those who don't have a voice.
Your biggest and sole reward as our customer is the realization that you've made a significant change in someone’s life, and if not significant a positive change none the less.
MISSION OF HOPE UPDATE:
Our partnership with ANPPCAN (The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect) continues to go from strength to strength. Late last year we had the privilege of returning to the Mathare Outreach Primary School to deliver over 100 school packs, which our loyal customers made happen with every purchase of one of our garments.
This trip was emotional and gratifying in so many ways, without the support of our customers there was no way we could have returned and kept our promise. With the support of our customers we were able to deliver the school packs to grateful faces that may not have possibly had the opportunity to own their own school supplies (such a small gift that put a smile on so many faces).
We thank each and every one of you for the love and support of Collective Closets + our Mission of Hope. Starting this label has been a true labor of love + our return trip back to the Mathare Community Outreach School was emotional, gratifying + truly special.
Moving forward into this year + reflecting on the success of our first Mission of Hope it was important for us to review our current mission and look at how best we could give back to our community, but also look at a more sustainable model that could have a longer lasting impact. We want to continue working with our partners at ANPCANN + continue to be part of a conversation that supports those less fortunate who given the opportunity are destined to do big + wonderful things in this world.
Click over to Mission of Hope 2 to meet Julian + what new adventures Collective Closets are up to.
Laurinda + Fatuma