I am awed and inspired by so many young people who are stepping up to the plate and using their incredible talents to serve our world. Recently I wrote the story of Wesam Azar, the designer of the The Coexistence Change Centre. And now here’s the story of how a 21-year-old design student’s sleeping-bag coat could break the cycle of homelessness.
image via the Empowerment Plan.org
And, I first heard about this amazing project on Daily Good: News that Inspires…gotta love that! The Empowerment plan aims to break that cycle. By giving homeless women jobs while in the shelter so they can earn money, find a place to live, and gain back their independence for themselves and their family. Meet Veronika Scott, the 22 year old Michigan based product design student who started a school project with a determination to get a good grade and who has since turned her idea into a business that could help and empower the homeless and natural disaster victims.
image courtesy of Metromedia blog
Her simple idea quickly morphed into The Empowerment Plan, a humanitarian project based in the city of Detroit. The plan centers around a coat that is self-heated, waterproof, and transforms into a sleeping bag at night. The coat is made by a group of homeless women
image courtesy of UIX Detroit
who have been paid to learn and to produce the coats for those living on the streets. The focus is on the system to create jobs for those that desire them and coats for those that need them at no cost. The importance is not with the product but with the people.
image via Play Ground Detroit
The goals of the Empowerment Plan are:
- to employ homeless females within the city of Detroit
- to give coats or the MPWR coat to individuals living on the streets
- to establish trust and communication with individuals deemed by the shelters as unreachable in the homeless community for example the mentally impaired
- to teach sewing manufacturing/ production skills to people that need jobs
- to offer a sense of pride to the women who have been employed in the production of the coats.
Image courtesy of Outside Online Blog
What do you think of this idea? Does it inspire you? If you know of another uplifting and inspirational story, please let me know. I’m all about sharing positive Little Bits of Beauty™ both local and global.
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8 Comments
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Irene–
This young lady needs to be applauded!!what an incredible idea–you wonder why something like this hasn’t been on the front burner before BUT it takes just the right person or persons and this idea and the garmet is fantastic!!
Spokane Wa has a big homeless problem–as does my town–there are many organizations helping these people find a shelter for the night-food and clothes–
None of us think we would ever be in such situations but we never know what is before us–
Every person has a story and the designer of this program and garment is right on teaching people how to get back on their feet again–God bless her and her endeavors!!!-
Author
Yes Lyn, she is amazing! And yes, I am always inspired when I see young people on a mission like this. It gives me hope for our future for sure.
Thanks for stopping by again, I always love seeing you pop up here.
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