ck-what-friends-are-for-banner-2019-10-21.jpg
LIFESTYLE

That’s what friends are for

There’s more to accessories than fashion, the Rafikis trend is all about giving back—together with your friends. Help spread the word with the WE are Rafikis campaign.

ck-what-friends-are-for-banner-mobile-2019-10-21.jpg
LIFESTYLE

That’s what friends are for

There’s more to accessories than fashion, the Rafikis trend is all about giving back—together with your friends. Help spread the word with the WE are Rafikis campaign.

TEXT & ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY VAN ES

Good news: friendship bracelets are back. This time around, though, ME to WE has added a little something extra to the trend: doing good around the world. How? By giving a ‘hand up’ (not a ‘hand out’) to women around the world as they forge opportunity for themselves and their family.

We call them Rafikis, which means ‘friend’ in Swahili, the national language of Kenya. Every day, Kenyan artisans—working together with WE Villages—craft these beautiful, handmade bracelets for a fair wage. And every time you buy one of these creations, you are using your purchasing power as a consumer to help these Mamas—as they’re known in the local community—support their family.

One-off shopping at the online ME to WE Store is a first step, but should you want to do even more to help the Mamas’ communities, there’s the WE Are Rafikis campaign. It’s super simple! For every $10 Rafiki bracelet you sell, five dollars goes to your WE Villages fundraising project—right back into the lives of the female entrepreneurs who crafted your bracelets.

To get started, follow these four steps and before you know it, you’ll be even closer to friends (given your matching accessories and all), on top of building a strong community of women globally.

Step 1: Grab your Rafikis.
Step 1: Grab your Rafikis.

The quickest way to get your campaign started is download the WE Are Rafikis Action Plan at WE.org/wearerafikis. Inside, you’ll create an action plan, set a goal and more to get ready to start fundraising.

So, how many Rafikis can you sell? We suggest aiming for 10, but if you can sell more… get it, kid!

Pro tip: Don’t forget to connect with your WE Schools Program Manager to find out which new Rafiki bracelet are available this season.

Step 2: Find a cause.
Step 2: Find a cause.

It’s time to learn all about the impact your fundraising will make in a WE Villages community! The coolest thing about the WE Are Rafikis campaign is that you can see exactly where the money you’ve collected is going. In fact, you and your friends actually get to help decide.

Our development model is made up of these things called ‘pillars of impact,’ which include water, food, education, health, and opportunity. These are the five types of support we provide partner communities. To learn more about the pillars, visit we.org for info on WE Villages. The information you’ll find here will help you decide which pillar you feel most passionate about.

Once you’ve chosen your pillar/cause, you’ll be able to see the real, tangible change you’ve helped create via Track Your Impact. It starts with a code! These impacts could include anything from a clean water well right in the community to school supplies for a classroom. The possibilities are endless with your help!

Step 3: Build hype.
Step 3: Build hype.

There are a ton of actions you can take in your school to spread the word about your campaign! Every school is different, so think about what kids get really excited about in your community. In the meantime, here are a few simple options to get the ball rolling.

Do the kids in your school go gaga for good style? Display your sample Rafikis on a table in the cafeteria or foyer to catch their eye. You could also put up campaign posters around campus.

Savvy on social media? Post about your campaign and have your closest friends do the same. It wouldn’t be the first time doing good went viral.

Step 4: Get down to business.
Step 4: Get down to business.

Now that you’ve piqued everyone’s interest, it’s time to take orders! Check out all the products and styles available at wearerafikis.com. Complete the order form and select the products you want to fundraise with.

Step 4: Get down to business.
Step 4: Get down to business.

One last thing!

When the Rafikis arrive, they will each have a personalized code on the packaging. Be sure to encourage friends to head over to trackyourimpact.com. Once there, they can type in the code and unlock their Rafiki’s impact—meaning shoppers see exactly where there money is going!

Okay, that’s it for us. Now it’s your turn. Take part in the WE are Rafiki campaign, and show women across the globe you stand with them—that’s what friends are for, right?