Western Mali faces extreme obstacles such as lack of education, disease, and poverty, preventing many local business owners from developing and expanding. Students partnered with African Sky and provided resources and supplies for the expansion of a tailor workshop in rural Mali. The head tailor previously produced organic cotton scrubs, and through this partnership, received four more pedal sewing machines and supplies to expand the workshop. The sale of refined products (scrubs) rather than raw materials provides farmers and tailors with a direct revenue stream and fair wages. All fabrics are purchased Fair Trade in Mali. The first shipment of scrubs was for January 2009 and an online buying site is being created so that tailors can expand their consumer base.

• Brought sewing machines to Mali workshop and assisted in setting them up
• Developed marketing strategies and taught them to local tailors.
• Created lasting friendships, bridging Mali and US culture