Oliberté | This Is the Real Africa at Schema : more than ethnic

Oliberté | This Is the Real Africa

Google Search reveals that there are over 2,630,000 hits when the words 'African charities' are searched. 2,630,000 hits! So much charity work is dedicated to making Africa a better place for its citizens. Whether it be through combating poverty, setting up wells for clean water, charity for the children of Africa, improving living conditions, or building schools, the list goes on and on. Many, if not most, of these charities rely on donations and volunteer work from people like you and me, and in most cases I'll send in money every now and then because, well, it's the right thing to do. I play my small part to make the world a better place. But after that my act of charity is long forgotten, I re-enter life and consume myself with school, work, family, and friends. Am I still a charitable person? Yes. Did I really, authentically care about the cause that I was donating to? Um......yes? Maybe a little?

I truly believe that it is through all these charities dedicated to Africa that the country's situation has vastly improved over time. However, unless you are part of the charity's organization, for the most part people like you and me tend to forgot that these charities do exist. When the company called Oliberté was brought to my attention, I immediately thought to myself that this is a fantastic way to put Africa on the map of peoples' minds. So what is Oliberté? Its an ethical urban footwear company that makes its shoes in Africa using the natural materials from the country. The company is based out of Oakville, Ontario, but Africa is the site of where their manufacturing takes place.

So why does Oliberté matter? And more importantly why should you buy their shoes?

Footwear is first to be made from natural rubber in Liberia
Premium leather is light, natural and from Ethiopia
Ensure farmers, factory workers and suppliers are paid fairly and treated responsibly
Work in partnership with factories to improve our environmental footprint
Support local training and communities in every country where we work

Oliberté stresses that it is not a charity and unlike charities Oliberté doesn't allow you to forget about the people of Africa. When you purchase their footwear, when you put on their shoes on a daily basis, you are reminding yourself of the place your shoe was made in and of the ethically sound methods of the way your shoe was created. Whether this means you'll go out of your way to support more causes, the cause will always be somewhere in your mind every time you wear those shoes, and that can lead to a world of differences (and not to mention the pretty slick footwear on your feet).

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Oliberté | This Is the Real Africa

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