Earlier this year we spoke to the General Manager of the Cotton On Foundation Tim Diamond about the transformative power of global citizenship, their on the ground efforts in Southern Uganda, and how we can all take measures (big or small) to effect positive change for those less fortunate than us. Here’s a story he told us…
“A guy named Fred lived in our first village in Uganda called Mannya. He was twelves year old, he was one of our first sponsor children,” he said. “He was one of the first students to go to a secondary school we had built. He came through the system and got a scholarship to university then started a micro-finance business in Mannya which now has more than 450 members and the majority of those have started their own small business.”
Last month the foundation was the major partner of Global Citizenship
Festival in New York City, which fought to end the sustained inter-generational
cycle of extreme poverty by 2030 by bringing together the musical
talents of Stevie Wonder, Kings Of Leon, Alicia Keys and John Mayer. The foundation raised $815,000, which will go towards projects including a microfinance bank to support the current 400+ money lenders and to encourage further small business and economic development across Southern Uganda, social workers rooms for consultation of community across social need, health and well-being and monitoring of the community children and youth and development of their next Central Village in Naamabale.
“That in itself is an inspiring story.” he continued. “You have this child who was given the opportunity for education and success and he’s taken so many more people with him. Without the work on the ground and without developing these opportunities for education, that never would have happened. It was just incredible. There are so many more stories like that. I think a big issue with a lot of charities is accountability. People want to see a positive tangible outcome in the money that they donate and my job is to make sure that happens. Stories like this make me proud of the work I do.”
But they don’t just want to talk about their accountability – as opposed to the majority of others who raise funds, cut a cheque and hope for the best, the foundation funds and undertakes projects directly – they want to show you.
100% of proceeds from go back to Cotton On Foundation and supporting people in need around the world. And now you can follow your dollar all the way to Southern Uganda and see firsthand how buying a charity product in Australia can impact the lives of those less fortunate than us on the other side of the world.
To enter, head to the Follow Your Dollar All The Way To Uganda competition page and tell them in 100 words or less how you’ll roll up your sleeves and help the Cotton On Foundation end extreme global poverty in Southern Uganda.
