TO THE EDITOR:
UNC’s commitment to supporting social entrepreneurship has created incredible organizations like Carolina for Kibera and Nourish International.
A little less well-known than its peers is 2010 Carolina Challenge Grant winner A Ban Against Neglect (ABAN), founded by UNC student Callie Brauel. ABAN’s office is on Franklin Street, but the heart of its work is in Ghana.
ABAN runs a facility in Ghana that provides a safe haven, trade skills and education to 20 young women (aged 16 to 20), many of whom have children.
The women help fund this two-year apprenticeship program by producing up-cycled products out of littered plastic and beautiful batik fabrics.
Part of the proceeds from each product goes into a savings account for the apprentice so she will have enough savings upon graduation to launch her future and that of her child’s.
ABAN’s U.S. operations are run mostly by UNC interns. To spread the word about ABAN, they have launched a $100 photo contest.
All you have to do is buy an ABAN product, take a photo of yourself with it and send it to kirsten@aban.org. She will post it on ABAN’s Facebook page, and the photo with the most “likes” wins.
You can buy ABAN products tonight at the “United We Love” event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chi Omega sorority house. A photographer will be on hand. ABAN is proud to be a product of UNC’s global initiatives.
