Shop guilt-free with emPOWER
By Hannah Groah, Campus Life Senior Writer
October 1, 2007 | 11:38 a.m.
More than a million uses for paper exist in a college student’s life: writing essays, mailing mom a note for cash, giving some random guy or girl your number. The new campus organization emPOWER hopes college students will soon be wearing paper as well.
The emPOWER Campaign came to Ohio University last year and works to provide an education for orphans in Uganda. Orphaned children of sub-Saharan Africa often can’t afford the materials required for school, and according to the emPOWER Web site, these children, “commonly end up on the streets, are engaged in child labor and in some cases, prostitution.” The campaign helps fund both primary and secondary education as well as providing women with a valuable business.
“It’s cross-cultural, us helping them,” OU intern Crystal Edmunds said. Edmunds became involved with the campaign last year, and the staff has grown to include three OU student interns, 80 volunteers and director Andria Sherrow. This charitable organization doesn’t ask for donations, though. Instead, emPOWER has created the circle of hope, Edmunds said.
The circle of hope begins with paper. The Iruhurra Women’s Cooperative in Uganda makes jewelry out of colorful rolls of recycled paper. The surprisingly sturdy and beautiful paper beads are accented with plastic beads and sometimes avocado seeds.
The jewelry is purchased fair-trade from the Cooperative and sold in America. Two-thirds of the profit then goes back to Uganda to support orphans’ education funds. The pieces range in price from $5 to $30. Small wallets made of straw, which Edmunds said are “perfect for cameras or IDs,” are the cheapest good offered, and multi-strand necklaces are the most expensive.
Professor Sherrow began the emPOWER Campaign, a part of the EDUCATE Foundation, in 2004 after staying in Uganda with her husband and daughter. Upon noticing that some children were not able to afford school, Sherrow began the circle of hope.
Jewelry sales began last year in Athens. Edmunds said the goal is to have the jewelry sold throughout Ohio, but as of yet, no plans to distribute the jewelry in stores are in existence.
“We have a monetary goal,” Edmunds said. “I think it’s $20,000 for the year.” Edmunds is confident that they can reach this goal, and she stresses the importance of raising awareness. “We just want to get our name out there because we are just starting out,” she said.
The emPOWER Campaign has at least five major events planned for the year, usually on special campus weekends. The campaign raised $300 at the Student Involvement Fair at the beginning of the year and had a booth at the shockingly small Sustainability Festival this past weekend.
Next up for emPOWER jewelry sales is the International Festival in Columbus. “That will be the big event,” Edmunds said. “That will be great networking because the UN chapter of Columbus is hosting it. It will have just amazing people.”
Amazing people, amazing jewelry and an amazing cause add up to affordable art you can wear and of which you can be proud. So forget that Wal-Mart jewelry, and buy something that gives children an education.