2012 graduate expands nonprofit overseas
2012 USC graduate Amy Woodell's college experience opened up more career possibilities for her than she ever imagined.
Woodell, who earned a fashion merchandising degree from the university, is the founder and CEO of Clothed in Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides education to under privileged women in other countries. The organization was inspired by a mission trip Woodell took in 2010.
"I never imagined I would be on the path of nonprofit work during or after college, much less being the founder and executive director of one," Woodell said. "After I went to Zambia in 2010 for mission work, I realized that there were more possibilities for me through my major than I had planned for myself. It was such a blessing to see how a fashion merchandising degree can be of huge benefit outside of the 'typical' career paths leading to New York City or other major fashion capitals, and that it could actually be of use to benefit the lives of people across the world."
The recent graduate is expanding Clothed in Hope's mission this month with a visit to Lusaka, Zambia. Woodell will spend the next 12 weeks introducing Clothed in Hope's vocational program to women in the Ng'ombe slum, which will be CiH's first in-country operation.
"This is my third trip to Zambia. Last summer I visited the slum compound, Ng'ombe, in Lusaka, Zambia which was where I first spent time during my mission trip in 2010, in order to figure out some logistics, budgeting and mainly to sit down and learn more about the women," Woodell said. "It was, and will be, so beneficial for me to just hear their stories and learn from them too. I'm no one special, but rather just one person given the opportunity to live life with women in a completely different culture but still with the same hearts as ours."
To raise money for the trip, Woodell and students in the School of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management sold Clothed in Hope T-shirts.
"From the beginning, shirts have just been a tool used to tell others about Clothed in Hope, of the need and opportunity in Ng'ombe," Woodell said. "I started off sewing shirts for awareness raising and fundraising, but there quickly became so much interest that I just couldn't keep up with also being a full-time student. That's when we switched to screen printing our shirts, which has continued to connect us with people all over the country, furthering the spread of CiH and resulting support for our operations. We've easily sold over 500 shirts and are so excited to be launching our newest design this fall."
Woodell isn't the only member of the Clothed in Hope team. The organization has grown significantly in its year and a half of operation.
"It isn't just me; it's supporters, donors, advisors, staff, interns, professors and so many others who make up the heart of this organization. Together we've raised over $27,000 and that's incredible," Woodell said.
Woodell is grateful for the support of the HRSM department.
"The College of HRSM has been an invaluable part of CiH from the beginning," Woodell said. "As if it couldn't get any greater, the HRSM 301 class taught by Professor Smiling raised over $10,000 for Clothed in Hope. This provided the seed money needed for us to bring ideas to reality. I've been so inspired by her generous heart to include the class in a project so far beyond assignments and exams. The College of HRSM is the definition of community, and I'm honored to be a part of that network for the rest of my life."
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