| Clarks Shoes have been making foot-friendly shoes | | | | personal contribution, but soon realized that so much |
| and leading innovation since the 1800s. Founded by | | | | more was needed than he could do on his own. |
| Cyrus Clark in the little village of Street, Somerset, | | | | That realization was the start of Soul of Africa, an |
| Clarks began making shoes in 1830 when Cyrus’ | | | | organization that teaches young women affected by |
| brother James began making and selling sheepskin | | | | HIV a marketable skill and helps them become |
| slippers. In the earliest years, James Clark introduced | | | | independent by paying them a living wage. All the |
| his ‘Hygienic Line’ of shoes, which followed | | | | shoes made by Soul of Africa are handmade from |
| the line and shape of the foot. In 1856, the company | | | | start to finish – from the cutting of the pattern |
| bought newly invented Singer sewing machines to | | | | to the final hand stitching. The shoes, in several |
| produce shoes more efficiently. | | | | different styles, are sold throughout the UK and |
| Early on, Clarks made their reputation for stylish and | | | | several other countries for £29.99 (about $70 USD), |
| comfortable shoes. That reputation was cemented in | | | | with all manufacturing profits going to support the |
| the years after World War II when the Clarks | | | | children and families of Durban and extend the good |
| moved into the world markets. Nathan Clark | | | | that the orphanage can do. |
| introduced shoes modeled on the comfortable suede | | | | To date, Soul of Africa has raised more than $1 |
| boots he and fellow army officers had found in the | | | | million, all of which has been used to provide a better |
| Cairo bazaars, and the Desert Boot became a global | | | | living environment for the children of the orphanage. |
| sensation. In the 1960s, Clarks followed up the | | | | Sales of Soul of Africa shoes has provided beds, |
| success with the Wallabee, a simple moccasin style | | | | linens, desks, furniture, running water, bathroom and |
| that quickly became a classic. | | | | kitchen facilities, crockery and other necessities of |
| Clarks has continued to make foot-friendly shoes | | | | living. |
| throughout the century, and now, nearly 180 years | | | | There are plans to build more houses in conjunction |
| after the founding of Clarks, the small company that | | | | with the orphanage, homes where they can live with |
| started with a pair of sheepskin slippers is one of the | | | | foster mothers in stable families. The profits earned |
| largest shoe manufacturers in the world. Last year, | | | | by the sale of Soul of Africa shoes have also built a |
| sales of Clarks shoes topped £921 million. The | | | | school where the children can receive a good |
| company employs over 12,000 employees worldwide, | | | | education and begin building for a better future. |
| and makes over 41 million pairs of shoes each years. | | | | The Soul of Africa program does not stop there. The |
| But none of those shoes is as important to one | | | | young women who make the shoes are among the |
| member of the Clark family as those that are | | | | minority who hold regular full time jobs. Their earnings |
| hand-stitched in South Africa by the women of the | | | | support themselves and their families, bringing them a |
| Soul of Africa organization. In 2003, Lance Clark | | | | sense of empowerment and pride and giving them a |
| visited a small community in South Africa that had | | | | new lease on life. |
| been ravaged by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. South | | | | Since its beginnings, Soul of Africa has set up a trust |
| Africa has been hit hard by HIV, and nearly 2 million | | | | that has funded other projects, making it a seed of |
| children already carry the virus. Many are already | | | | change in South Africa. In conjunction with the |
| orphaned, left behind by parents who have died of | | | | Rotary Clubs of South Africa, Soul of Africa is |
| HIV, and many of those orphans do not carry the | | | | working on identifying providers of early childhood |
| virus, but live lives that have been affected by it. | | | | care in the villages and cities, and working to provide |
| While visiting South Africa in December 2003, Lance | | | | them with buildings, educational equipment, fencing, |
| Clark met Sarah Gedye, a woman who had set up an | | | | toilets, food, training and assistance with health care. |
| orphanage to house children that lost their parents to | | | | The Child Development Care Centers provide much |
| the AIDS epidemic. The facility was no more than a | | | | needed preschool care and day care in an area |
| shell in the village of Durban, in need of all basic | | | | where children would otherwise often be neglected |
| amenities, even beds and washbasins. Clark made a | | | | because of a lack of resources. |