African Woodsmoke

Earlier this year we had a goal to sell 258 scarves in 2 months to help to educate one of Miriam Kamanthe’s sons, Christopher.  With your help we far exceeded this goal and gave Christopher the chance to go to school for one year.  Unfortunately, I could not make it to Kenya to hand over the money to Miriam because of extremely high airline prices.  We were able to get her the money through some very good friends that live in Kenya though.  Miriam was ecstatic to say the least.

Education is the ultimate gift that you can give in Africa.  Families struggle to afford the high cost of education in Kenya and receive very little government subsidy.  Education gives hope for a brighter future.  Without an education there is very little chance to succeed in life especially when jobs are not as prevalent as they are in the US.  THANK YOU so much for helping change the life of this family in Africa.

Our new goal kicks off today and that is to educate Dorothy, Miriam’s second child for a year.  Our goal is to sell 258 scarves by the end of August to educate Dorothy for a year.  Purchase a scarf HERE and help to change the life of a family in Africa.

Christopher & Miriam

Dorothy & Miriam (Miriam is wearing a scarf on her head)

Kweri (cheers),

Sean, Founder Woodsmoke

Miriam Kamanthe is a fellow mother from Nairobi, Kenya.  She has three amazing children and through your help we have helped to educate one of Miriam’s children for a year in Kenya.  In Africa education is not paid for by the Government and many mothers in Kenya struggle to afford the many costs of sending their children to school.  Meet Miriam HERE.

Through YOUR help we have educated one of Miriam’s children for a year.  For every 258 scarves purchased we send one child to school in Africa for one year. Miriam has another two children that she would like send to school but she cannot afford the many costs associated with school fees.  This Mothers Day we are stepping in and pledging to help support her.  We pledge to sell 516 (258 x 2) scarves by July 25 to send Miriam’s two children to school.  This Mothers Day give the ultimate gift to another mother by helping to put her children through school.  To purchase a scarf and change the lives of two children in Africa click HERE.

Woodsmoke took on a crazy goal in early January this year and that was to sell 258 scarves by March 9th so that we could educate one of Miriam Kamanthe’s children for a year in Africa.   We have worked immensely hard and have received awesome support all over the United States to help accomplish this goal.  Thank You.  Now we are REALLY close to reaching this goal.  I leave to go back to South Africa in 8 days and we have sold 200 scarves and have 58 left to sell.  That is 7.25 scarves a day that we need to sell.  There are a few ways that you can help me to sell the remaining 58 scarves this week:

• Purchase a scarf on the Woodsmoke website this week here.

• Have me come over to your office this week sometime and sell scarves to employees.  A bottle of South African wine will be given to the finder.

• Spread the news via facebook or twitter with this link: http://bit.ly/cT0OJ5

• Come up to the Woodsmoke Office and purchase a scarf: in the First National Bank Building downtown on Floor 9

Call or email me if you have any ideas or questions about this cause: sean_coetzee@hotmail.com, call me at 402 617 5675.  Thank you for all the continued support!

Cheers,

Sean, Founder Woodsmoke

We have one goal this spring: Sell 258 scarves by March 9th to educate one of Miriam Kamanthe’s children for a year.

This spring we would like to give a child in Africa the opportunity to a better life.  Miriam Kamanthe was our first artist that started working with Woodsmoke. She is an amazing person and has built a vibrant little business in Nairobi, Kenya.  Woodsmoke’s goal is to support education in Africa.

We have worked out that it will cost $450 to educate one of Miriam Kamanthe’s children for a year in Africa.  This $450 includes books, school clothes, and school fees.  Woodsmoke is pledging to donate 5 percent of sales from our scarves towards educating Christopher, Miriam’s son.  That means that we have to sell 258 scarves to educate Christopher for a year. Here at Woodsmoke we will work tirelessly around the clock to make this happen.  Please help us to reach this goal.  We will accomplish this but we need your help.  To purchase a scarf and help us achieve our goal shop here.

When we do sell 258 scarves we will personally go back to visit Miriam and let her know that this will be happening.  We will show you with photos, videos, and the raw numbers so that everything is transparent.  If you would like to help out in any way email us at woodsmoke@live.com

Situation as of 02/20/10:

Scarves sold: 150

Money raised: $262.50

*We are still donating 5 percent of our wholesale sales – the numbers work a little differently because they are buying the scarves at discounted prices.

Siyabonga, (We Thank You)

Sean, Founder Woodsmoke

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Woodsmoke is the love, longing, and pull that Africa has on our hearts.  Woodsmoke is the smell of Africa just before a heavy rain, the never ending sunsets, and the wildness and freedom that only Africa can offer.  Woodsmoke lives in us and will keep pulling us back to Africa.

Our mission is to To bring the Woodsmoke of Africa to the West through our products, service, and people – all while supporting artists in Africa and their families. In the US education is a given, but in Africa it is seen as a privilege and opportunity because the government does not pay for education. Five percent of every Woodsmoke purchase goes to educating children in Africa.

Why Education?

• Without an education there is no hope in life, no matter how hard you work the plain fact is that if you do not have an education you do not have much chance in life.

• Africa does not need aid, they need trade. Fair Trade in Africa can only happen once the youth are educated to make smart economic and business decisions.  This is lead by obtaining a good education so that they can vote in good leaders and make choices based on sustainable trade ideals.

• Africa needs sustainability and that comes through educating the youth.  The old proverb goes; “give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.”  This is what Africa needs; they need to be able to trade with the world on a basis where they understand the outcome of their decisions.