I am incredibly delighted to announce that Rhimani’s June 2019 ‘Chosen Charity’ is ‘The SockStar Project’. SockStar is a charity that supports wildlife rangers by providing them with everyday quality essentials, such as socks, underwear, toiletries, educational materials and so much more.
Wildlife rangers play a vital role in the protection of endangered species. They are the men and women on the frontline, either battling poachers face on or the ones rehabilitating and taking care of the injured/orphaned African animals.
Elephant rangers and wildlife can spend up 40+ hours a week in strong, heavy working conditions. What an intuitive project where SockStar are able to help support these rangers by supplying them with personal goods to improve their livelihood and making their hard work a little easier.
Lew, the founder of the SockStar project, set up the charity roughly 7 months ago, piloting a delivery of 100 pairs of hiking socks to wildlife rangers in Kafue National Park, Zambia. He discovered the rangers and elephant keepers were working 40+ hour work weeks in all conditions, without socks, or at least with really hole-ridden ones. He realised he wanted to do more! He has now developed a more professional, strategy focussed campaign developed. Today, SockStar has teamed up with the ‘David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’. Their sole purpose is to finance the following; dental products, skin care and deodorants, feminine hygiene products, educational materials for the ranger's children such as paper and pens, and much much more!
Your Rhimani purchase this month has supported this inventive, new charity. Your donation has specifically helped the ones on the battlefield stock up on everyday essentials products such as; toothbrushes, bras and socks to help improve their living conditions. It’s crazy how much we take these items for granted. Your donation might mean a brave wildlife ranger fighting poachers is now able to brush their teeth or wear a pair of socks. Something so small yet we know can make massive difference!
Lew is a student at Durham University, which is another reason I was incredibly keen to support SockStar. Rhimani is something that started off whilst I was finishing Newcastle University. I first hand understand, as a student, just how hard it is to start up and fund something like this. Lew, you're a legend and it is a complete delight to support ‘SockStar’ this month!
Love Izzy x