The ability to empower through beautiful clothing is truly extraordinary. Worth New York Stylist, Cindi Shelby, found a way to weave together two of her favorite philanthropies that do just that through Worth New York. It all started when she met Terri Neese, Worth client and founder of the Peace Through Business program at the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW). The program connects aspiring female entrepreneurs in Rwanda and Afghanistan to successful counterparts in the United States who can mentor them toward success. Through the program, Cindi mentored Kevine Kagirimpundu, an emerging fashion designer from Kigali, Rwanda to pass on the fashion entrepreneurship and business skills she has learned with Worth. At the end of the program, the two held fashion shows side-by-side. Kevine showed her designs, modeled by fellow Peace Through Business participants, and Cindi showed the Worth New York collection on models from Suited 4 Success, another of her favorite charities that outfits under-privileged women in professional attire. All of the Peace Through Business and Suited 4 Success women received donations of Worth clothing at the show. “It was tremendous,” Cindi remembers. “The women cried when they received their Worth clothes. They were so lovely, so proud, it gives me goose bumps!”
- When you mentor someone, you learn right back from them.
