20091209 Shoes With Soul (1)

Shoes With Soul

The charity Soul of Africa produces shoes to help people in South Africa

In small factories in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, women stitch leather shoes. Before these factories opened, the women were unemployed, but now they earn money for their families. Shoes from these factories are sold online or sent to the U.S. or U.K., where people buy them. The profits from the sales go back to South Africa. The money helps to keep community centers in KwaZulu-Natal running. These centers serve children and families affected by AIDS. Soul of Africa makes this all possible.

In 2003, Lancelot Clark, a sixth generation member of the family that began Clarks shoes visited South Africa. The visit opened his eyes to the effects of the AIDS crisis. Deciding to help, Clark designed a shoe that could be made by women in their homes. He then teamed up with South African shoe manufacturers Mike and Sarah Gedye. Together they formed Soul of Africa, which employs over 70 women and helps children through 30 centers and other projects. By providing jobs and helping children, this charity proves shoes can "have soul" as well as soles.


stitch v. 縫/繡/編結
eg: I want to stitch together a small blanket for my baby.
eg: Mom stitched my little brother's name on his schoolbag.
eg: I stitched a new button on my trousers(褲子) after the original one fell off.
eg: It only took the doctor 5 minutes to stitch up my wound(傷口).

profit n. 利潤/盈利/收益/紅利
=> the money you make by selling something or by doing services for someone
eg: Even though we spent a lot on supplies, we still made a profit at the bake sale.

open one's eyes
=> help one realize the truth about something
eg: The semester I spent studying in Europe really opened my eyes to other cultures.

manufacturer n. 製造業者/廠商/廠主/製造公司
eg: This company is a major car manufacturer and has many factories.

un- 否定
emplyed adj. 受僱佣的
unemployed adj. 失業的/沒有工作的
eg: Larry has been unemployed for over 6 months now.

unemployed n. 失業者
eg: The unemployed of the country have become a social problem.

sole n. 腳底/鞋底/襪子的底部
eg: The sole of this shoe needs to be repaired.
eg: There are several holes in the soles of his socks.
eg: The soles of these boots are starting to get worn out.


homophone n. 異義同音字


//== Chat Room ==//

team up with someone 和某人協力合作
=> join someone or a group of people to help them do something

team n. (球)隊

on the team 屬於這個隊

teamwork 團隊精神

team player 有團隊精神的隊員
=> work well with other players


//== Grammar on the Go ==//

Soul of Africa makes this all possible.
=> Soul of Africa cause all these charitable things to become possible.

make something possible
=> cause something to become possible

eg: The new law makes it possible for children from low-income families to receive free education.
eg: The alarm system was broken, making it possible for the thief to break into the house.