Mango said on Tuesday it was joining forces with the NGO Save the Children to promote education and sport among children and women in Bangladesh.
Alexia Putellas, Mango ambassador and the best female footballer in the world, is also the ambassador of the project, which is called Goals,
Through this project, Mango said it aims to contribute to the social and economic development of Bangladesh, the world’s second largest exporter of ready-made garments after China, accounting for around 6.4% of global apparel exports. Together with Save the Children, the companies will promote learning opportunities in two of the local communities near several factories Mango works with, in the Dhaka and Savar regions.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a high percentage of people living below the poverty line. Poverty often means that families cannot send their children to school or pay for sports equipment or training. Furthermore, as a patriarchal society where gender roles are strongly defined, women and girls often face discrimination and are not encouraged to study or play sports. This is due to cultural beliefs and traditions, as well as limited opportunities and resources.
In contrast, Bangladesh is also one of the largest clothing manufacturers and exporters in the world, accounting for a significant portion of the global fashion industry. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the country’s garment exports were worth USD 34.13 billion in the 2019-20 fiscal year, which accounts for around 84% of the total export earnings. from the country.
The Objectives project focuses on promoting access to education and sport through the construction of four primary schools and the promotion of recreational and educational activities. Sport is the backbone of the program, so in schools the NGO will develop outdoor activities such as football, cricket, badminton championship for girls aged 10 to 18 and a chess tournament, in addition to local games.
The initiative, for which the company is going to donate a total of 500,000 euros, will last for two years and will benefit more than 4,000 people in Bangladesh, half of whom are minors, with special emphasis on women workers and their daughters, who will up to 70 percent of beneficiaries. In the second phase, the project will be extended to Turkey.
Toni Ruiz, CEO of Mango, says, “Mango is honored to work alongside Save the Children and Alexia Putellas on this project in order to have a real impact on people. Our focus is on working to generate a positive footprint, with a special emphasis on local communities. We firmly believe in the transformative power of education and sport.”
Andrés Conde, Director General of Save the Children, points out that “in many countries around the world, children face situations that make their lives difficult. Education is a very powerful tool to advance in life and with this alliance with Mango we will promote projects to guarantee hundreds of children the quality education they are entitled to. will help us achieve this.”
Overall, addressing the lack of education and sport for children and women in Bangladesh requires a multifaceted approach that includes tackling poverty, promoting gender equality, improving infrastructure and eradicating child labour. It also requires the involvement of government, civil society and international organizations to provide resources and support.