Google is announcing an international philanthropic project, “Global Human Trafficking Hotline Network,” created to help eradicate the problem of modern slavery. The initiative, funded by Google, is a collaborative effort by Polaris Project, Liberty Asia, and LaStrada International. The new initiative combines expertise of the members, which are primarily working in three regions, United States, the Mekong Delta region and Europe. It is designed to make it simpler for the victims of human trafficking to get a timely support both in the USA and abroad.
philanthropy
Starbucks UK has announced it will soon launch a popular charitable initiative “suspended coffee” in its venues. It means that now customers who buy a beverage for themselves can automatically reserve one of the same value for homeless people. According to Independent, Starbucks is the first British chain to adopt this charitable movement, which originated in Naples, Italy.
While Louis Vuitton’s promotional video by Love Magazine, starring models as prostitutes, is rising a wave of criticism among female rights activists, the latest activity from British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood contributes to the positive change in the women’s world. The fashion label has raised awareness about domestic violence against women using the window display at its flagship store in Milan. The displays featured mannequins with bruises all over their white plastic bodies to inspire female victims to break the silence.
Italian fashion giant Gucci has teamed with a roster of female celebrities to launch a new global campaign, Chime For Change, aiming to empower women across the globe. Beyoncé Knowles, Salma Hayek and Frida Giannini, Gucci’s creative director, have become the ambassadors of the new initiative, announced at the TEDxWomen luncheon yesterday, February 28. The effort is designed to inspire girls and women in different parts of the world to be bold, strong and enthusiastic about claiming their right for a better life.
Samsung is tackling the problem of suicidal behavior in South Korea with the new initiative, developed by the Cheil Worldwide agency.
The country has the highest suicide rate among the 34 OECD members, including Greece, Italy, the UK, the USA, Denmark, Israel, Australian, France and more, and it’s high time to find a solution to this life related issue. With the new “Bridge of Life” project, Samsung Life Insurance, which is a subsidiary of the Samsung Group, targets those who stepped onto Mapo Bridge—one of the most popular spots for suicide attempts (over the past five years, 108 people have chosen it as a place to commit a suicide).
Today, clothing, footwear and accessories brands are expected to contribute not only to the development of fashion culture, but also to making the world a better place through supporting eco-focused and philanthropic projects. Michael Kors is joining this movement (H&M, Ralph Lauren, and many more) by launching a multi-year long-term partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), aiming to fight hunger in the world. This partnership come as a follow-up to previous local initiatives by the brand, aimed at eradicating the hunger issue.
When social networking platforms and fashion brands unite for good, it may lead to something unexpectedly meaningful, as it has been the case with NY designer and philanthropist Diane von Furstenberg, who teams up with the U.S. non-profit vision benefits company, VSP and NYC Mission Society in a move to engage Pinterest users in a social charitable project #PinToGiveAndGet.
For U by Kotex, the women’s health has never been taboo and it has been openly discussed it in its promotions for years. Now, the brand is launching its frankest advertising campaign dubbed “Generation Know” to spread awareness about the facts about the V-word and educate female audience (and men, too) about feminine care through a conversation on GenerationKnow.com, a sort of social network dedicated to vaginal health.