Clarks Shoes have been making foot-friendly shoes and leading innovation since the 1800s. Founded by Cyrus Clark in the little village of Street, Somerset, Clarks began making shoes in 1830 when Cyrus’ brother James began making and selling sheepskin slippers. In the earliest years, James Clark introduced his ‘Hygienic Line’ of shoes, which followed the line and shape of the foot. In 1856, the company bought newly invented Singer sewing machines to produce shoes more efficiently.

Early on, Clarks made their reputation for stylish and comfortable shoes. That reputation was cemented in the years after World War II when the Clarks moved into the world markets. Nathan Clark introduced shoes modeled on the comfortable suede boots he and fellow army officers had found in the Cairo bazaars, and the Desert Boot became a global sensation. In the 1960s, Clarks followed up the success with the Wallabee, a simple moccasin style that quickly became a classic.

Clarks has continued to make foot-friendly shoes throughout the century, and now, nearly 180 years after the founding of Clarks, the small company that started with a pair of sheepskin slippers is one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the world. Last year, sales of Clarks shoes topped £921 million. The company employs over 12,000 employees worldwide, and makes over 41 million pairs of shoes each years.

But none of those shoes is as important to one member of the Clark family as those that are hand-stitched in South Africa by the women of the Soul of Africa organization. In 2003, Lance Clark visited a small community in South Africa that had been ravaged by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. South Africa has been hit hard by HIV, and nearly 2 million children already carry the virus. Many are already orphaned, left behind by parents who have died of HIV, and many of those orphans do not carry the virus, but live lives that have been affected by it.

While visiting South Africa in December 2003, Lance Clark met Sarah Gedye, a woman who had set up an orphanage to house children that lost their parents to the AIDS epidemic. The facility was no more than a shell in the village of Durban, in need of all basic amenities, even beds and washbasins. Clark made a personal contribution, but soon realized that so much more was needed than he could do on his own.

That realization was the start of Soul of Africa, an organization that teaches young women affected by HIV a marketable skill and helps them become independent by paying them a living wage. All the shoes made by Soul of Africa are handmade from start to finish – from the cutting of the pattern to the final hand stitching. The shoes, in several different styles, are sold throughout the UK and several other countries for £29.99 (about $70 USD), with all manufacturing profits going to support the children and families of Durban and extend the good that the orphanage can do.

To date, Soul of Africa has raised more than $1 million, all of which has been used to provide a better living environment for the children of the orphanage. Sales of Soul of Africa shoes has provided beds, linens, desks, furniture, running water, bathroom and kitchen facilities, crockery and other necessities of living.

There are plans to build more houses in conjunction with the orphanage, homes where they can live with foster mothers in stable families. The profits earned by the sale of Soul of Africa shoes have also built a school where the children can receive a good education and begin building for a better future.

The Soul of Africa program does not stop there. The young women who make the shoes are among the minority who hold regular full time jobs. Their earnings support themselves and their families, bringing them a sense of empowerment and pride and giving them a new lease on life.

Since its beginnings, Soul of Africa has set up a trust that has funded other projects, making it a seed of change in South Africa. In conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of South Africa, Soul of Africa is working on identifying providers of early childhood care in the villages and cities, and working to provide them with buildings, educational equipment, fencing, toilets, food, training and assistance with health care. The Child Development Care Centers provide much needed preschool care and day care in an area where children would otherwise often be neglected because of a lack of resources.

The Soul of Africa also funds primary school scholarships for children who would not otherwise be educated, sports scholarships to assist gifted athletes and the Granny Project to give financial aid to those women in rural areas who are trying to care for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.



Thanks to Stephanie Larkin for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Children Waiting For Adoption

Have you ever been the new person in a group?  Have you ever walked into a conversation and immediately knew you were intruding?  How did it make you feel?  Often, foster care programs fail to educate prospective parents on the wide range of

emotions a child may be experiencing when they arrive in a new home.

When a foster child comes into your home you may be very excited at their presence.  You may be afraid about what they will be like and if you can be a good parent to them.  You may have been waiting to love a child for a long time and the day has finally arrived.  Those are all valid feelings but I’d like you to consider setting aside how you feel and think about how your new child is feeling. They may be feeling like the odd man out, an intruder, or unwanted.

This person may have just been removed from a home where they have always lived with their biological parents.  No matter how abusive and rotten those people may have been, no matter how poor, dirty, and neglected your child was, they are still going to want their own mommy.  No one will ever replace that spot in your child’s heart and remembering that and even acknowledging it from time to time will go a long way toward helping you bond with this new child.  Also, remember that not all foster kids come from abusive or neglectful families.  There are many reasons a child can end up in foster care and sometimes it isn’t the birth parents who are in the wrong.

If you are thinking of having a huge welcoming party if you are aware of the placement date, consider if that is really what you would want if your whole world was falling apart?  Probably not. Be aware of the tender feelings you will be encountering and take it slow.  They, after all, may be sad and not in the mood for a party.  Be cheerful and welcoming, make a good meal and have a cozy room ready, but don’t have the expectation that they will show appreciation.

Offer lots of hugs and make sure you are clear about expectations but don’t have a long list of rules for them to memorize.  Something like, “This is a safe place for kids to live.  Our only rule is that you treat everyone else the way you want to be treated so that everyone here can stay safe.”  A statement like this can be referred to in any situation but is easy to remember and logical even to a child.

Overall, your main job fostering kids, especially in those first few weeks is to make certain your new children feel as safe as possible.  Try not to be constantly running from activity to activity, make sure everyone gets enough sleep, and find out about favorite foods so you can make your foster kids feel special and loved.



Thanks to Sandra Nardoni for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Children Waiting For Adoption

Ghana is an African country that is situated right on the south coast of what we call the West African bulge. It shares its borders with Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Fasso and the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Ghana has always had a rich cultural and natural heritage. There is a narrow and small grassy plain that stretches inward from the Atlantic coast and widens in the east and this stretch of land is home to dense rainforests and different animals and plant species. One of the major attractions in Ghana is the national park at Kakum. As compared to some of the other countries in Africa, the national parks in Ghana are relatively small. Some of the animals that you will find in Ghana include different species of antelopes, deer, lions, monkeys, and elephants. There is plenty of species of birds for the avid bird watcher and the photographers and then there are the beautiful and colorful butterflies. Another major tourist attraction is the coastline of Ghana, which is home to many palm-fringed and powdery beaches as well as lagoons.

Why Volunteer In Ghana

Ghana offers a great opportunity to volunteers as you will be exposed to some of the extremes that Ghana is famous for. Volunteering in Ghana will involve working with the people and for the people. Teaching is one of the most sought after volunteer jobs but you can have limitless opportunities for contributing to the overall health and welfare of the people of Ghana. Different types of projects that you can work in as a part of volunteering in Ghana include orphanages, education, community development, HIV/AIDS awareness, and health programs.

Types Of Projects Available

As a part of volunteering in Ghana, you will get to choose the kind of project you are interested in. The different types if projects available include:

• Teaching Projects: Ghanaian schools have a dearth of good teachers whether that is for teaching English or for any other subjects. Volunteering in Ghana programs will help you to teach English in different rural schools across Ghana. Teaching is not just limited to English but you can teach various subjects from science to arts. The different forms of teaching will include subject teaching, classroom teaching and extra-curricular activities like arts, sports and Martial arts. You need to have a basic minimum of high school education for this type of volunteer work in Ghana.

• Orphanages: There are over 170,000 orphaned children in Ghana and the primary reason being AIDS. Some of these children’s have been taken by extended family or even friends but not all of them are lucky enough. There are many more that live on their own on the streets of Ghana or in orphanages. As a part of volunteering in Ghana program, you will be working with various orphanages situated all across Ghana and mostly in rural areas.

• Humanitarian Projects: As a volunteer in Ghana, you can opt for humanitarian projects, which are similar to community projects but more extensive and mentally challenging. You will be able to contribute towards educating the under-privileged children and women, assist in HIV/AIDS awareness for the benefit of mankind, and work with the local community in building homes, creating an infrastructure for rural schools etc.

• Health Care: Most of the health care volunteer programs in Ghana deal with diseases, immunization and creating awareness in the community. Volunteering in Ghana will involve handling several projects related to creating HIV/AIDS awareness and maintaining statistics of the AIDS infected population.

Volunteer Requirements

Age: The minimum age for volunteering in Ghana should be 18 or older.

Duration: The standard duration of most projects is 5-8 weeks although they can also vary from 1-2 weeks or 9-12 weeks.

Language: English

Experience: No experience required unless it is a highly technical project.

Fee and Other details

There is a fee attached to each of the projects that you volunteer for. The fee is charged in advance and is charged for the following:

1. Accommodation

2. Emergency evacuation services    

3. Food/meals

4. Travel insurance

5. Transportation within the region

6. Emergency support

7. All types of training material

8. Supervision by local staff

9. Orientation on arrival

10. Local sightseeing & recreational activities

Conclusion

Volunteering in Ghana is a great opportunity for all those who have been longing to make valuable contribution to the continent that is known as the cradle of human civilization. Using your business or technical skills, you will be able to offer a better alternative to the people of Ghana.



Thanks to Moe Tamani for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Adopting From Kazakhstan

Many people are interested in adopting a child. Some of them could not conceive on their own while others simply want to extend their help. Learn important things you should know about this big responsibility.

The foster care adoption system provides temporary family care and shelter to any child from birth to 18 years old. Most of these children are left to fend for themselves at a very young age. Some have parents incapable of providing their basic needs, a loving and caring environment. Some of the children have been through very rough experiences in their own homes like physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as deprivation and other negative experiences.

It was currently recorded in the US that the average stay of children in their foster homes is 31 months. Half of the children get to be permanently adopted. The process to get into foster care adoption may vary, depending on the policies implemented by agencies and areas. The prospective foster parents undergo training and have to obtain a license. The process also involves a lot of paperwork, background check and a home study.

Parents are also provided stipends to contribute to the expenses entailed in taking care of the children. These include clothing, school supplies and toiletries. Supervised visitation of biological parents is also done in the foster care system. Length of the visit may vary.

Of course, foster care adoptions have its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it reassures parents that they are providing a very positive contribution to children and their biological families. It also builds a strong emotional bond between the foster parents and the children; likewise, visibly benefiting both parties in the process. The state also provides compensation to the foster families.

There are some disadvantages also. First, both foster parents/family and children undergo the pain of separation, once and if a child is reunited to his family of origin. The stipend for foster parents is not enough to provide for the overall needs of the child. Hence, foster care adoption may also mean that foster parents have the resources to be able to tend to the needs of the child. Thus, emotional and financial strains may be created within the foster family. It also creates a feeling somehow that there is never enough support or resources for the children in foster care.

Foster care adoption may require a certain amount of money. Private and agency adoptions may require a starting amount of $5,000 to $40,000. The amount may vary, depending on the required documents the foster care adoption arrangements would entail. These factors include services, travel expenses, birthmother expenses, documents or other requirements from the state, among other factors. International adoptions costs go between $7,000 and $30,000.

In the US, the foster care system is not that costly though. One of the factors that determine the permanence of foster care adoption is the result of the rehabilitation of parents after a period of six months to more than a year. If there were very little or no changes seen after such time, parental rights are terminated (TPR). Before reaching this point, case workers must be able to tell whether the child’s case is heading towards this direction. He is then transferred to a family that has an intention to permanently adopt him. The court will process the adoption commencing once the TPR is deemed effective. The adoption also entails that the right of the biological parent to know who the adoptive parents are becomes void. Although in many cases, adoptive parents were able to build a good relationship with the birth parents.



Thanks to David H. Urmann for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Family Adoption Services

The Chinese Orphans:  Children need hope.

 

I am in China teaching and along with some other friends we decided to take a little bike ride through the country during this coming summer.  We thought that since we spend most of our time working that we really never get to see much of the country or people outside of the city we work.

 

While talking about all this, I contacted a friend of mine who runs a foster home for babies.  This isn’t like a normal foster home in the sense that these children are waiting for adoption; it is a foster home for babies who possibly will never be adopted.

 

In China, children and babies brought to the orphanage normally do not get adopted; it is not common for Chinese people to adopt children.  On that note, Foreigners adopt most, and the Chinese Government sets the rate or cost.  Presently that cost is around $5000 USD, not including any costs to and from China, or administrative fees.

 

What some people should know is that when these children are brought to the Orphanage, it is likely they will spend their childhoods in these places.  One in particular, has around 600 children at the moment.  The foster home run by my friend has 30 babies at the moment in which she is caring for, but these particular babies all need some sort of extra care.  Most have cleft palates and without operations and care to resolve the cleft palate the babies will go un-adopted.

 

In China, when a child is brought to the orphanage, they are primarily non-entities, in the sense that they have no identity.  Without an identity, which is basically an identity card stating who you are, or your family identity, you have nothing to indicate that you are a real person.  A real person with rights and the ability to enter school…let alone other problems.  Their chances of normal lives is minimal when you consider the fact that most will spend their childhoods in this facility.

 

Some people might think that’s not so bad, right?  Maybe some people have grown up this way in western countries and think it is just one of those struggles which you get through and once you become a young adult everything is ok.  You can still go to school, still find work, still get a bank account and all the other things that everyone else can do.  The problem is that this isn’t how it works for these children.

 

Without an identity, they cannot go to school or register.  Most people in China use relationships to build their lives around them.  It’s whom you know.  In other countries we have legislation, or methods by which a person, a child has rights, has identity, has something to give them a mode to enter school, find work and be treated with equality.  In China, without relationships, without contacts to people like family and friends, you have virtually no chance to build a life or be given the same opportunities.

 

We are running a Charity Campaign…..to help raise money for the Starfish Foster Home in Xi’an.  There are 30 babies from the local orphanage are be cared for here, and need help from you and I……www.monkeyspeaks.com/charity.html.

If you are in a western country please also visit www.peerdreams.com/p74…..this site will give you an opportunity to donate by buying a tile on the board…the tiles are only $40 USD, or go to http://www.monkeyspeaks.com, on the charity page at the bottom is also a method through Paypal, with donating a minimum of $5 USD……everything helps…..please take time to remember that these children have a hard beginning, we are trying to make life a little more positive.

 

Be Good

Be Safe

 

Tama McGibbon

 

 

http://www.monkeyspeaks.com/roadtrip.html

  

 



Thanks to Tama for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:

Adopting A Child From China