I just discovered the blandly-named Project Migration, which is the brainchild of (model?) Hillary Rowland. The organisation purportedly sells merchandise (in this case fashionable t-shirts with the African continent on them) made by "single mothers in Africa" (no indication where it might be, but at least they found it on a map).
On the website are links to a number of photo shoots Rowland has done with the new t-shirts, as well as a video of her looking sexy during a particularly skimpy photo shoot (Bill Easterly, eat your heart out).
Rowland is one of those self-made socialites who uses the internet for self promotion (such as by posting lots of pictures of herself with real celebrities). As she seems to dominate most of the photos on the site, her sudden decision to join the philanthropic community might seem a tad suspect.
The photo at the start (which is directly from the merchandise shop!) says it all. Also read the fine print: "For each Project Migration product sold, a single mother in central Africa will receive 5 to 20 years of clean water and life-saving medical supplies."
Riiiiiight.
Hat tip to AFRICA IS A COUNTRY for the link.
3 Comments
"We personally hand-deliver the medical supplies we donate, on trips we call 'Migration Vacations', so named to inspire people to use their 'vacation time' from work to do something positive and meaningful in the world."
Voluntourism at its finest.
I'd love to see how much each "product" costs in order to make such a big difference.
Really struggling to get away from the underwear and skimpy clothing, aren't we? :-)
Such a mixed bag, these celebrity-led climate/development/human rights campaigns...
At one end of the scale, you have the heroism and the deft diplomacy of Joanna Lumley's campaign for Gurkhas. This... well I'm not so sure...