The Zucchini Initiative: Off the Street, Back to School

Children are at the very core of what we do at Zucchini Outfits and fashion is the tool we employ in making the desired impact in the life of the young ones in their life’s pursuits. To us, each clothing item we produce is carefully crafted with the uniqueness of each child in mind – using the vibrant and colourful fabrics from across Africa – we tend to impress on the child confidence, positive self esteem and a sense of self worth.

C. S. Lewis best expressed our mindset as an organisation that “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work”. This is the very reason we are committed to children in all ramifications ensuring that we meet their yearning needs in fashion, and through fashion. While assuring value for money through our designs and styles, our clients need be aware that for every purchase they make, they are contributing towards ensuring a street child gets the opportunity of attending school through our “Off the Street, Back to School” project.

UNICEF reported that forty percent of Nigerian children aged 6-11 do not attend any primary school with the Northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate in the country, particularly for girls. Despite a significant increase in net enrolment rates in recent years, it is estimated that about 4.7 million children of primary school age are still not in school. Even when children enrol in schools, many do not complete the primary cycle. According to current data, 30% of pupils drop out of primary school and only 54% transit to Junior Secondary Schools. Reasons for this low completion rate include child labour, economic hardship and early marriage for girls.

(http://www.unicef.org/nigeria/children_1937.html)

At Zucchini Outfits, we believe that through business, we can improve children’s lives. We understand the concept of business for community good through responsible giving. In giving back to our community we are focused on getting as many children as possible back to school, while also offering them life skill development opportunities through our development platforms; one of which is the “Fashion Lab for Schools”; providing a fully equipped fashion workroom where the children can be groomed, equipped and empowered. A percentage from every sales made from our clothing is channeled towards this cause and we are bold to say that your patronage also affords that child the opportunity to be educated and given a fighting chance.

In closing, to us at Zucchini Outfits, the very one goal that we strive for is written in the words of Forest E. Witcraft: “One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child”

Come join us on this cause.