Carmen first met model, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Flaviana Matata, at last year’s Glasswing International benefit gala, where her beauty and generosity of soul struck her. They have been friends ever since, and Flaviana has willingly given up her time to support Carmen’s Glasswing program for migrant youth in NYC and has been to speak to the kids Glasswing works with, who are largely from BIPOC communities, to inspire them with her stories of hope.
Flaviana Matata at the 2019 Annual Glasswing International Gala in New York City / bfa.com
Flaviana’s story is that of a true role model. Having initially studied electrical engineering, she broke through into modelling after being the first contestant to represent her home country Tanzania at Miss Universe, where, in 2007, she competed with a shaved head.
Whilst pursuing her subsequent career in fashion, working with some of the most respected professionals in the industry, she also became a successful businesswoman, founding LAVY, a line of non-toxic nail polish and personal care products, and, pursuing her drive and deep commitment to use education as a tool to transform lives, she founded the Flaviana Matata Foundation in 2011. This wonderful philanthropic initiative provides resources and opportunities for girls to complete their education and to grow up to become confident, economically independent and supportive of their communities by finding employment or starting their own businesses.
Since 2012 the foundation has reached and impacted over 5,000 students in Tanzania and, with ambitious goals to reach 6,500 children by 2022, it is working hard to become an even stronger institution, providing students with much needed school supplies, renovating and refurbishing school infrastructures, and granting full academic scholarships for girls in secondary schools, colleges and universities to encourage and ensure they stay in school. There is also a program of work on teachers’ housing, building a total of 10 houses at Msinune Primary School in Bagamoyo, to provide an important incentive for the best teachers to work at the school.
With 57 million primary age children out of school globally – half of whom are from Sub-Saharan Africa – and the impact of Covid-19 likely to cause many more to lose out, Flaviana is continuing to push for investment in children’s education and encouraging the Tanzanian government to work to improve access to quality education, making sure that no one is left behind.
Carmen has donated to Flaviana’s foundation to help support the children during Covid-19 and invites you to please do the same if you can. To give you an idea of how your donation will help:
$50 covers 1 month of books and transportation
$100 covers 1 month of tuition and supplies
$250 covers 1 month of housing, meals and practical assistance
$500 covers 1 year of books and transportation
$1,000 covers 1 year of tuition and supplies
$2,000 covers 1 semester of college
$4,000 covers 1 full year of college
To donate please go to www.flavianamatatafoundation.org/donate-flaviana-matata-foundation
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
-Nelson Mandela
