<div dir="ltr">ASU 2013/2014 Hero/Heroine Nominations.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Ziegler, Lauren</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lh144809@ohio.edu">lh144809@ohio.edu</a>></span><br>
Date: Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:32 PM<br>Subject: nomination for african hero award<br>To: ou-dg-asu-forward <<a href="mailto:asu.ohio@gmail.com">asu.ohio@gmail.com</a>><br>Cc: "Negash, Ghirmai" <<a href="mailto:negashg@ohio.edu">negashg@ohio.edu</a>><br>
<br><br>Dear ASU execs and Dr. Negash,<br>
<br>
I would like to formally nominate Julie Church and Tahreni Bwaanali owners of UniquEco as the 2014 African Hero recipient (I realize we can only fly one of them in).<br>
<br>
This project emerged in 2005 as these two social and environmental activist sought to extend the project known as The Flip flop Project. The Flip flop Project sought to clean the beaches of the local coastal way to help marine life in the area. Additionally, they realized that the pollution caused by the plastic shoes were causing degradation their local water ways and were potentially poisoning them and their local marine life which they were reliant on as a food source. The ocean currents in the area bring thousands of pairs of flip flops into the area every year from around the world. Endangered animals and children were being threatened through the piles of debris. As marine life was suffering in the area so did the people. Tourism was one of the few viable economic resources to the people of the area and with the pollution of the area incomes were dwindling.<br>
<br>
UniquEco provides a solution to these problems. By using the flip flops the project led by the two women creates jobs and facilitates the clean up of the local beaches and waterways. This in return brought tourism back the area, protects local marine life, and brings a new sense of cultural richness to the area.<br>
Through this project people are employed under a fair wage. The project collects the flip flops from the water ways, washes them, and turns them into a variety of things including: sculptures, purses, baskets, and jewelry.<br>
<br>
This project employees over 20 full time women and brings crafts to local shops for them to sell. In one year alone they recycle over 30,000 flip flop pairs and other plastic materials bringing income to dozens of other family owned shops.<br>
<br>
It is my belief that small run operations like this are the true African Heroes of this generation therefore I am officially nominating them for the award.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Lauren Ziegler<br>
<br>
</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>African Student Union<br>Ohio University<br><a href="mailto:asu.ohio@gmail.com" target="_blank">asu.ohio@gmail.com</a>
</div>