Mr Price Group salutes the Clothing Bank
Pictured at the 2015 launch of the Durban branch of the Clothing Bank from left to right: Natasja Ambrosio (MRP Foundation Director), Najwah Allie-Edries (Head of Jobs Fund), Tracey Chambers (CEO Clothing Bank), Litha Kutta (WOOLWORTHS ED Manager), Sibongile Shabalala (Clothing Bank ED Programme beneficiary), Louise Jones (Old Mutual Foundation), Tracey Gilmore COO Clothing Bank.
Mr Price Group is proud to be associated with other like-minded organisations that are finding innovative solutions to empower South Africans. With the support of some of South Africa’s major retailers including Mr Price Group, The Clothing Bank, a local non-profit business, won the 2016 Schwab Foundation’s ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ award, a prestigious international honour for outstanding examples of social entrepreneurship.
In an effort to turn the tide on unemployment in South Africa, The Clothing Bank transforms the lives of unemployed mothers trapped in the cycle of poverty through entrepreneurship. Unemployed women, with a strong desire to change their lives, are taught business skills and are able to access clothes and other merchandise to purchase and sell at a reduced price. The clothes and merchandise are donated to the Clothing Bank by major South African retailers. The Clothing Bank then helps each woman to become her own micro-retailer, empowering her to become self-employed and look after herself and her family.
Since the Clothing Bank started six years ago it has trained 1135 single mothers to begin their own micro-enterprises, collectively garnering a profit of over R40 million at an average of R4100 each per month. As the largest contributor of donated clothes in the KwaZulu Natal region, the Mr Price Group has significantly helped in contributing to the 2.7 million garments valued at more than over R167 million that the non-profit has received.
The Clothing Bank CEO, Tracey Chambers, said:
“We are extremely grateful that so many of South Africa’s leading retailers have rallied behind The Clothing Bank. The success of our project, and the difference we are able to make to the lives of so many families would not be possible without their ongoing, generous support. The award from the Schwab Foundation is an acknowledgement of this.”
When business, organisations and people partner together, so many more lives can be impacted for the better.
