Lesotho Choir

Sep 15th, 2006 11:30 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Last night I had the honor of listening to the Shinning Century Garment Workers Choir from Lesotho at the Rayburn House Building. At the event, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (pictured left with the choir) announced that he will introduce a bill to extend AGOA – a crucial piece of legislation needed to save the garment industry of Africa.

Legislation like AGOA can seem abstract from the States – even to some of those who came out to the event. I hope being introduced to the men and woman of the choir, whose families rely on the income they earn working in these factories will make this legislation real to Americans. Without AGOA, tens of thousands of Africans could lose their jobs.

The event was hosted by GAP Inc., which has many factories in Lesotho. I spoke with Dotti Hatcher, senior director of GAP Inc.’s Social Community Investment, who told me that last May when GAP Inc. was touring its factories in Lesotho to announce the launch of ALAFA – a new AIDS testing and treatment pilot program – it held a contest among all the factories’ choirs. The Shinning Century Garment Workers Choir won, and that’s why they were here in D.C. last night.

One-third of the women working in the factories in Lesotho are infected with HIV. Since its launch, ALAFA (Apparel Lesotho Alliance to Fight AIDS) has been highly successful in its goal of treating the disease in a comprehensive way. The choir performed earlier this week at an event in New York promoting the initiative.

Tonight the EDUN ONE t-shirts will debut in New York City on the last day of fashion week. $10 from each t-shirt purchase will go directly to ALAFA.

TAGS: The ONE Blog