Article Contributed on: 11/17/2008 11:32:11 AM
If you are eagerly anticipating students knocking on your door this holiday season selling the usual fundraising must-haves of candy bars, cookie dough and, lets not forget every ones favorite, wrapping paper, then you may be in for a fair amount of disappointment this season. That is, oh course, if you live in one of the surrounding neighborhoods frequented by Aurora Central High School students.
This season, students at ACH have opted out of the usual fundraiser favorites in favor of a project that serves more than the needs of just those around them. Students have chosen to partner with The Zambian Soap Company in order to raise funds to help build a school house in rural Zambia that will support the local community.
The Zambian Soap Company is a Boulder-based naturals company that began with the vision of helping to lift Zambians out of poverty through locally inspired production of several commodities. Local workers in Zambia grow, harvest and distill organically raised plants that they then use to create 4 unique flavors of soap which are sold in the United States through school fund raisers and local shops.
Students at Aurora Central High, armed with brochures detailing the production process and company story, will sell soap door-to-door, using the proceeds to help fund the building of their schools chosen service project in Zambia. In the past, schools have chosen to fund such projects as building schools, digging wells and even providing micro-loans to women so they can begin their own candle making business. ACH has elected this year to raise funds for a school house, which will require about 12,000 dollars to be raised.
Manager of The Zambian Soap Company school fundraiser projects,
Andy Jansky, is a firm believer that students are a powerful voice within our communities to carry the message of those who are in need around the world. "I could not be more excited about these students at Aurora Central High School-I don't know if there is a better group of students to do this project. From the beginning, they really caught the vision for what this project is meant to encompass: students helping students, global stewardship, community action. I expect great things from them, both now in this project and in the near future. I can honestly say that it is a great privilege to work with them and I cant wait to see what they can do."
About The Zambian Soap Company:
The Zambian Soap Company began with the vision to empower Africans to lift themselves out of poverty through small-scale development and local initiatives. Today, local Zambian workers support themselves through the production of organically made soap and other items that are sold through the Zambian Soap Company. Zambian soap is naturally made, organically grown and authentically African.
For more information on The Zambian Soap Company and their efforts to help the local peoples of Zambia develop a sustainable lifestyle, or if you would like to do a fundraiser through The Zambian Soap Company please visit www.zambiansoap.com for more details.