Mabel is passionate about poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on empowering persons with disabilities with relevant skill sets unique to their needs as well as providing formal employment. She is a student social entrepreneur pursuing her Bachelors’ from university with a focus on Development Studies. Her desire to empower the disabled resulted in the founding of EcoShoes.
EcoShoes was inspired by a long term observation of how society disregards the disabled. Mabel stated that this starts and is reinforced by family members who see them as burdensome and incapable persons who are not able to contribute to society. She approached a friend (who is passionate about design and fashion) and together they conceptualized the innovative and inspiring Business model of Eco Shoes.
The EcoShoes Project is an initiative that supports artisans with disabilities where she provides advice on product development, mentoring, financial and business literacy. EcoShoes employs market-based restoration and works with local artisans with disabilities providing them a source of livelihood and giving them opportunities to escape from poverty. The business reinvests in the environment by using waste to create something of greater use and value and seeks to build a community of conscious consumers. This project today employs five people who are being paid fair wages for their work.
Eco Shoes has been recognized by media houses such as BBC, Rising Africa, and Leaders-Afrique. Mabel will be attending the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Silicon Valley this coming July.
Mabel shares: “I seek to build a community of conscious consumers with a forward thinking team who believe reusing and recycling can turn trash into treasure.”
