Foschini is inviting all South Africans to make a difference in women's lives by purchasing a Relate Bracelet, to help 18twenty8 to empower young women from disadvantaged backgrounds with their education and personal development. The bracelets also benefit both the elderly and young women who make the bracelets - the Gogos - who earn an income from threading and the young closers and packers who receive skills training from Relate in order to achieve their life goals.
Instead of a plastic bag for your purchases, you can take your Relate Bracelet home in a canvas bag in support of the campaign with a choice of empowering slogan - 'Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken', 'Throw kindness around like confetti', or 'By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others'.
"This campaign is about women supporting women. We wanted to make a powerful statement this Women's Month and, by partnering with Foschini, we can really spread the message far and wide. Anyone who supports the campaign is actively and tangibly empowering young women," said Relate Bracelets' Marketing Manager, Ashleigh Bedford.
18twenty8 empowers young women by developing strategies for their educational and personal development - facilitating workshops, providing mentors, through financial assistance for higher education, and combatting youth unemployment by recruiting and training community-based youths.
"We are excited to create a platform for women across South Africa to recognise their strength and potential, and to 'be the change'. With various initiatives on the go, including our partnership with Relate, we are inviting customers to assist Foschini in donating R100,000 to 18twenty8. Let's stand together, and be the change," said Louise van Wyk, Head of Marketing: Foschini Division.
According to 18twenty8: "We encourage young women, predominantly between the ages of 18 and 28, to view higher education as an attractive and necessary tool for their empowerment. We have carved a niche for ourselves by being one of a few organisations in South Africa that is 100% led by young women who empower other young women. Our approach is empathetic, skills enhancing and relevant to the young women we serve as we have experienced some of our beneficiaries' challenges at first hand."
