Le Lézard
Subjects: NPT, CSR

Chicago Impact Company Launches Campaign to Engage Corporate Allies and Tackle Human Trafficking & Slavery


CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CAUSEGEAR L3C, www.causegear.com,  the Chicago-based social enterprise announced its "For Human Justice" campaign to expand its roster of socially responsible companies as allies to tackle human trafficking and slavery. With more than 750 million people living in poverty around the world (World Bank), and human trafficking and slavery at unprecedented levels, the call to action has never been more urgent.

"Slavery is in large part a symptom of poverty," said Brad Jeffery, founder of CAUSEGEAR. "The average minimum wage in South Asia, a leading fashion manufacturing region, is less than $2 a day, consistent with the World Bank's definition of poverty." "Young women and girls from families that struggle to survive become easy targets for kidnapping, slavery, and prostitution," he said. 

Jeffery created CAUSEGEAR to employ former victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution in South Asia, including in the largest red light district in Kolkata, India. They are trained as crafters to produce Jeffery's fashion-forward line of t-shirts, bags, totes, and accessories. "Jobs that support rescued individuals in the regions where the need is greatest, attack the problem at the source and begin to develop a self-sustaining trend that cares for humans," he said.

The company's empowering MADE BY FREE WOMEN label offers a range of products for retail and service businesses and their employees, from aprons to t-shirts; and co-branded merchandise for their customers and clients. "As with all CAUSEGEAR, the women who make MADE BY FREE WOMEN products are paid five times the average minimum wage which allows them to obtain life's essentials?food, water, clothing, housing, medical, & education," Jeffery said. The 5X jobs model reduces the need for long-term aid and charitable donations while supporting a dignified pathway of self-reliance. THE MADE BY FREE WOMEN Project has an initial goal of providing work for 20,000 women video.

The company's "For Human Justice" Campaign is actively seeking alliances with ethically minded and socially responsible businesses. "MADE BY FREE WOMEN offers an unparalleled opportunity to businesses and consumers to solve one of the most urgent causes of our time, through a shift in the brands they support," said Jeffery. Companies that have already joined the campaign include Duracell, Takeda, World Relief, Lockton, Ravinia Festival, Milwaukee Ballet, CDW, and Staffmark. 

To learn more about the MADE BY FREE WOMEN project and CAUSEGEAR, visit causegear.com.
Contact Katherine Jeffery at [email protected]

Designed in Chicago and handcrafted in India, CAUSEGEAR's mission is to transform the lives of one million people trapped in unfathomable poverty & injustice to become self-sustaining. CAUSEGEAR is an L3C low profit social enterprise with 90% of profits benefiting crafters. Learn more and read the personal stories of freedom at causegear.com.

SOURCE CAUSEGEAR



News published on and distributed by: