Today, a staggering 25 million refugees have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of conflict, persecution and other devastating factors beyond their control.
In an effort to raise awareness about the plight of refugees across the world, a Minnesota-based apparel brand, called Epimonia, has been donating 50 percent of its profits to US organizations that support refugees with opportunities for education and advancement.
The company is run by Mohamed Malim – a former refugee himself – who came up with the idea of recycling life jackets previously worn by refugees and turning them into bracelets, creating jobs for refugees in the process. By marketing the wristband as its signature product, the company wants to raise awareness about the precarious situation of refugees worldwide and hopes to change the often negative rhetoric around these communities in the US.
Already, Epimonia has provided refugee students with college scholarships and paid numerous citizen application fees for refugees seeking to become US citizens.
