(Last Updated on May 1, 2014 by Editor)
United Kingdom, Gateshead: Using local community donated recyclable materials, a 21 year old Newcastle College Fashion Student Audrey Munyavhi has come up with a theme for a fashion show for Friday May 2 at the Old Town Hall Gateshead, dubbed (Eco-Fashion Show) to raise funds for Solar Lamps to donate to one disadvantaged school in Africa. Deputy Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Neil Weatherley will grace the event.
As a final year Student of fashion and a big heart Audrey decided to do something for the community at large as part of her final assignment.
The show aims not only to raise funds for replacing kerosene lamps with solar-based household lighting in one community in Africa but will also educate and demonstrate to the audience how to take care of their environment by recycling, re-using already available materials within the North East region and limiting waste sent to landfills.
Audrey originally from Zimbabwe has partnered with a local Gateshead charity ‘The4Cs – Climate Change Community Champions’ which was recently nominated for best Voluntary Community Organisation award by Gateshead council to hold the first ever big Eco Fashion Show in the region.
Audrey, a daughter of two tailors arrived in England when she was 12 years old and grew up in a fashion environment. While as a student and on attachment at House of Fraser, she could not stop being fascinated by items of designs, and the dream of her life began to shape up. She says that she found everything about the new course interesting and fun and felt more at home.
Audrey narrates how she first got involved with the charity the4Cs – she was attending a photo shoot that was being done by a member of the4Cs, Mr Svotwa who discussed with her about the aims of the organisation and its quest to promote green environment to the local community and some of its project to replace kerosene lamps with solar lamps to disadvantaged communities in Africa. She came up with the idea of using recyclable material in her industry to help.
The4Cs charity was started by Panganai Svotwa, Northumbria University Alumni in 2013 and has been going strong since then. The4Cs partnered with 3 local schools on how to construct a greenhouse from scratch using recycled 2litre empty soda bottles. The charity has already sourced over £500 and bought 50 solar lamps which will soon be sent to rural Robert Sinyoka project in Zimbabwe.
When asked to comment, Panganai Svotwa the organisation spokesperson said the show was a great and potential community engaging concept and “we are sure this year’s first event will be a success judging from the numbers of participants and volunteers from the close communities that have registered”. The show is likely to be sell-out in a 180 capacity venue.
“We are co-organising this climate conscience themed event, where we hope to archive our goals through doing a light entertainment on the subject” – Panganai
The event will feature the Hannabiel & Yillis Music band, and a few speeches from the Deputy Mayor of Gateshaed, the4CS Chairman and some of the people that the event has touched.
Some of the advantages of solar lamps in rural areas environment include:
- Improved Literacy rate – children read after dark more easily and school work improves.
- Improved Health issues – kerosene lamps fumes in poorly ventilated houses are a serious health problem. World Bank estimates that 780 million women and children breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
- Extends the Working day – allows businesses to operate during the evening and promotes local enterprises.
Notes to the Editor
The Eco Fashion Show will debut at the GatesheadOldTown Hall on Friday, 02 May at 7pm. The tickets are £10 for adults, £5 for children and will be available from the Sage ticket office – 01914434661. Those not able to attend the show are still able to support the solar lamps project, details and more information is available on the charity’s website – www.the4csne.com
Facebook:the4csne
the4Cs – 07958046058/Email – the4csne@gmail.com
There will be a variety of entertainment with performances from local and regional artists such as Ladies of Midnight Blue, Bre Musiq, Novel Arts of Coventry and many more.