Thursday’s column: Improving lives halfway around the globe
Natalie Mundy, with one of the silk scarves manufactured by "the Silkies." | The Roanoke Times | File
Natalie Mundy never dreamed that her Peace Corps stint in a mountainous village of Madagascar would result in a globe-spanning business in prized, hand-woven silk scarves.
Or that it would attract the attention of an internationally known filmmaker, who would set out to make a documentary about it.
The first is a reality; the second is close to done. It was the reason for a reception and cocktail party last week at the Roanoke County home of her father, Marshall Mundy, and his wife, Monika Mundy.
Natalie, 26, got out of the Peace Corps in May. She’s pursing a graduate degree in international development and is engaged to a fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Dan Branch. They met on the plane that took them to the island nation, 300 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa.
But the silk export business she left behind in the town of Sandrandahy (pop. about 1,000) is thriving, and bringing significant revenue to Federation Sahalandy, a collective of 91 people, almost all women, whom Natalie refers to as “the Silkies.”
(Click the link above to take a look at offerings from “the Silkies” or to buy some of their wares. You can contact Natalie at Natalie(dot)Mundy(at)gmail.com).
READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.
July 5, 2012 - 8:55 AM
What a terrific story! I so enjoyed reading this – thanks Dan!
What an outstanding story! Here’s to the Silkies!
Excellent.
Good to read about somebody who’s really doing something to aid the poorest of the poor by helping them pull themselves up.
I hope the Documentary is good and they submit it to Sundance or Tribeca! I looooooove Documentaries.
Check out the trailer: http://www.davidevansimages.com/video/madagascar_trailer.html
What an inspiring 26 year old…and how proud her parents must be. Thanks Dan for sharing this story.
It seems we should be looking for more stories like this one – it restores our collective faith in how one human can positively impact many…
Margaret Mead dictum, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
A great story Dan! An even greater young lady!!
Good to read about somebody who’s really doing something to aid the poorest of the poor by helping them pull themselves up.
Yes, I feel the same way about those who help the poorest of the poor gain an honest income through capitalism. I also praise corporations who provide jobs for the poorest of the poor around the world.
most ill-informed also admires those like Willard Romney who go around creating, “the poorest of the poor” by laying off workers and stealing their pensions…yep, that’s most ill-informed @#9 kind of people.