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Spark

When I turned 35, I began to hear about young ladies in the developing world, especially South Africa and Lesotho. I fell in love with their spirit, their intelligence, and their articulate views.

It occurred to me that if someone could help them rise from obscurity, help shape the “raw material” of their lives, and give them access to education, their full potential could be realized.

Burning Ember

Shortly thereafter, I became inspired to apply my design skills to mining massive amounts of rejected post-consumer goods (especially denim – “mined” is denim spelled backward!) that were languishing in consignment and used clothing shops.

I began mixing denim, wool and leather items to form new fashion creations; mined reCREATIONS was born! I was exhilarated to be creating stylish, useful designs from unwanted clothing, but I wanted the work to be even more meaningful.

Roaring Fire

In 2006, when I met the Marimba Kidz from the Soweto area of Johannesburg, South Africa, I connected with 6 young female members of the band (the band was made up of 26 children ages 14 to 18 years) and their personalities touched me. In speaking with these young women, I saw a chance to blend my passion for design with my desire to create opportunity for the developing world’s young women.

By giving new life to old fabrics and accessories in my handbag, mitten, and hat designs, and by contributing a portion of the proceeds of sales to scholarships for these South African girls, I could create an opportunity for them to attend post-secondary education and experience the doors which it can open.

A portion of the sales from each mined reCREATION is used to pay for a South African girl’s university education. You can read their stories under Lasting Flame.

I hope you’ll explore the links below to learn more about the girls we are helping, the University of South Africa, the Cotlands Organization, and to watch the video clip of the Soweto Marimba Kidz.

http://www.unisa.ac.za
http://www.cotlands.org

Soweto Marimba Kidz

Lasting Flame

It's been 28 months already and I still can’t believe how I have been blessed. I at least learn something new about myself every day.

The past 28 months has set a pattern that has now become a way of life!

When I registered at Unisa two years ago I only knew that once I graduate I will become a CA, and then be a business woman.

To my surprise, I moved away from home, and suddenly life it’s somehow more complex. I have always been a hands-on person, and have always had something to do after school. When I stayed with my mother, I always found supper ready and never used to go with shopping with her.

Now I have to guess what’s for supper, and that was the easy part - if only I knew what goes in that pot - and how it’s prepared! At first I burned and over-cooked food but today I can at least do my basics and prepare a simple meal. Once dinner was out of the way, my next challenge was "laundry". Oh my word! I remember my white shirts changing to strange colours!

We start school in summer here, so waking up was not a problem until winter came. My mom was not there to tell me to get up once and come back to pull the blankets off. I had to motivate myself to get up, knowing it would be so cold when I did.

Things got into perspective and you understand things better and begin to embrace life and the choices you must make.

My first year was a learning stage and grasping the reality that my dream to be a business woman was actually on its way to being fulfilled. My second year felt like my first year, but I can now at least feed myself, away from my mom, and manage my time effectively.

In the second year, new subjects were also introduced. I love accounting, but, auditing has also become a subject that I find very interesting. It challenges me more than accounting does. There is something about this course that always tells me that this knowledge will make me a better business woman one day.

In the same year (second year), I travelled with my Band to Canada again, and my dream was reborn as one of our dancers for the band got an opportunity to study dance in Toronto. Currently I am studying and doing admin for our band as it is registered as a trust now. I am also one of the trustees in the trust. I mentor one of the girls in the band, Beauty, and I share my accounting knowledge with Lydia (she used to dance in the Band). I still find balance to do all the things I love and still learn and now work for the trust.

I keep on wanting to learn and learn and understand better every day. This profound love for learning auditing leads me to my destined path. Last year July I signed a training contract with KPMG to do my articles in 2011, after I have done my honours.

My newly gained knowledge gives me wisdom and I work hard every day to become a better woman and live up to my dreams.

After all it’s my dreams and only I can fulfil them.

Letter From Kefilwe

When Kefilwe and her fellow Soweto Marimba Kidz Band members came to Canada the experience was transformational for them and the crowds who saw the show.

Here are some video clips of their performance and Kefilwe’s reflections.