Felix' Birthday Fundraising Event #2

Thanks for visiting my fundraising event at betterplace.org, on the occasion of my birthday party in Übersee (Chiemsee)! 

A recent visit to the interesting exhibition "Fabric Stories - About globally moving materials" in Munich has increased my curiosity for the role that the fashion industry plays in our dealings with climate change. In the corresponding public debates in Germany, we see a lot of focus on consumer-related aspects such as mobility, housing, and (to a lesser extent) food, while there is much less coverage on the significant impact of our fast fashion habits. The textile industry is estimated to be responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions – more than international flights and maritime shipping combined! I became particular sensitive to the use of specific fibres such as cotton and polyester and the huge amount of textile waste and low degree of recycling in the production chain. 

This is what triggered my thinking towards this charity initiative and I started to spend many evening and weekend hours researching and discussing with different textile recycling projects. Unfortunately, many projects didn't really "click" with me in the way they create impact (considering aspects of size, scope, scale, geography, funding etc.). I then became acquainted with Gatsby, a renowed social initiative by the British Sainsbury family, who got me in touch with a handful of textile-related projects in East-Africa of which I liked TEXFAD from Uganda the most, for the following reasons

- Addresses global carbon emissions with focus on textiles/circular fashion
- Also addresses a poverty/education topic
- Empowers local communities and provides self-help support
- Ensures that most of the donation reaches its main purpose, i.e. the production technique and the local community 
- Is rather no big ("fat") organization, but an agile project driven with expertise & heart and where our money is more than "a drop in the ocean"

Uganda is one of the world’s largest banana producer and a world leader in banana consumption. After the harvest, banana stems are usually discarded as waste. TEXFAD has developed technologies for banana fiber extraction and application into production of high quality banana fiber textiles and handicrafts. Please find more details on TEXFAD's website (https://texfad.co.ug/banana-project.php), on Youtube (xxx) and the information attachment in my Email. Through Gatsby, I have done a bit of due diligence on the facts & figures around this project, and everything seems to be in good order.

This is why I propose all guests coming to my birthday party on July 01 consider making a donation to TEXFAD to help them cope with the following challenges:

1) Improve worker safety
2) Test models around mechanising the extrusion of fibre
3) Explore new markets 

 
Thank you very much for your support!