Hello, and welcome to my page! As many of you know, while deployed to Afghanistan my colleagues and I created a social business named Flying Scarfs. Our endeavor is/was guided by the belief that poverty and violence are integrally connected, and if we could help Afghans improve their local economies, violence would abate. We chose to empower poor, widowed women by selling their handmade scarfs online and in boutiques around the United States. In the first year of operation, Flying Scarfs had nearly $50,000 in sales and employed 50 brave, Afghan women. These artisans - who cannot hold employment in most places in Afghanistan - can now afford to send their children to school where they are less likely to be recruited by the insurgents.


Recently, we were contacted by Maisha orphanage in Kenya who wants to mimic our business model in Afghanistan. The orphanage is responsible for the care of roughly 55 children, many of whom lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and are themselves infected. The older women in the community sew garments for the children and are capable of making items that fit well with our already established online store. Our goal is to travel to Kenya between 12-19 July to build rapport and facilitate a relationship between Flying Scarfs and Maisha.


This trip will be quite expensive and will be paid for out-of-pocket by all who attend. The flight alone is $1588.00 - my target amount. All contributions are greatly appreciated and will directly assist in our effort to eradicate poverty and violence worldwide.




Thanks!!


Joey
Co-founder, Flying Scarfs Inc
www.flyingscarfs.com