British peer of the realm Baroness Lola Young joined the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) Board of Trustees on June 1st, 2013 and participated in her first board meeting Wednesday, June 12th. Led by AbTF’s founder Dr Michael Otto, the Board meets twice a year to ensure that the foundation’s overriding goals — improving socio-economic living conditions in Africa and promoting environmental conservation — are being successfully met. Baroness Young has already been active on behalf of the Foundation and its Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) Initiative as ambassador in Great Britain since February 2012.
Lola Young works tirelessly throughout the world to promote the production and consumption of sustainable fashion. “Joining the board is a chance for me to be even more involved in the work of the Aid by Trade Foundation,” Young noted. “Since I visited Zambia in 2011, it has become even clearer to me why it is so important to fight for sustainable raw materials in fashion. Even small changes in the way consumers and producers think can have a positive and very concrete effect on the lives of local people.” The Aid by Trade Foundation is making an important contribution here.
The British peer of the realm accepted an invitation by the Aid by Trade Foundation to attend a stakeholder conference in Zambia in October 2011. There she learned about the work done by the AbTF and its CmiA Initiative, and also got to know a few African farmers. The visit convinced Young to come on board as the Foundation’s ambassador and support the Initiative.
Lola Young has been an independent Member of the House of Lords since 2004. She founded and heads up the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion. Baroness Young is also a member of the Member of the House of Lords EU Committee on Foreign Affairs. On the Aid by Trade Foundation Board of Trustees, she serves with leaders from environmental organizations, scientific institutions and the business community.
More information on the AbTF Board of Trustees here.