About Us
My name is Hannah Howell and I am a graduating senior (June 2020) from Stanford University with a bachelor's in Art History. This fall, I will begin pursuing my master's in Sustainable Science at Stanford.
During the summer of 2019, I participated in a 3-week civil service program in Gordons's Bay, South Africa. The service work involved working with and educating the community and kids. Each day, I worked with the kids in the community, they eagerly awaited my arrival – rain or shine – ready to play and learn. The time spent with the kids and the connectedness of the community were inspiring. Despite never having met anyone from Zola and having grown up in a completely different culture, the community members accepted me as part of their family. Seeing the kids smile and eager to learn amazed me and motivated me.
The experience was eye-opening and seeded my own personal growth alongside the kid's education. I did not want my experience to end with just photos and memories because it was much much more than that. It was transformative. The trip inspired me to continue giving, not just through service but through financial support. I am passionate about helping the kids in underprivileged communities receive a quality education. An education they deserve and are eager to embrace.
It was out of this passion to help educate kids, along with the passion for art and fashion, that Kunye was born. Michaela and I created a fundraising project that perfectly combines the two passions and is the inspiration behind the Kunye clothing brand.
link to a blog post from my trip:
https://ace.duke.edu/zola-a-loving-community/
My name is Michaela Gordon and I am a rising senior at
Stanford University, pursuing a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society as well as a minor in International Relations.
Along with Hannah, I was fortunate enough to participate in the 2019 ACE in South Africa civil service program, where I was able to meet the incredible community members of Gordon's Bay. Our service work involved running a holiday school and sports program for children in the community, as well as teaching computer classes and first-aid skills to adult community members. Even during my short stay, I was touched by the overwhelming kindness of those around me, as well as the enthusiasm of the children in the township to learn and help one another. One of my most cherished memories of the community is watching as the children taught one another new sports drills and song-and-dance games, encouraging each other every step of the way.
The strong sense of togetherness present in Gordon's Bay taught me the strength of community and the importance of helping those around us, and led me to pursue further service work related to expanding children's access to education in under-privileged communities. Kunye, which translates to “together” in the Xhosa language, was inspired by this central value of togetherness, and seeks to support the education of children in these communities.
link to my blog post from our service trip: