Angelina Jolie funds girls’ schools in Afghanistan with the proceeds of her luxury jewelry line.
Hollywood actress and goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), Angelina Jolie is building girls-only primary schools throughout the country. One particular school, which opened last November, educates about 300 girls and is located outside Kabul in an area with a high population of refugees. In 2010, she opened her first school in eastern Afghanistan, according to the UNCHR. The focus on all-girls’ schools is intended to counterbalance a cultural bias that values boys’ education over girls’.
Additional schools will be funded by proceeds from her “Style of Jolie” line which she created in partnership with jeweler Robert Procop. He designed her engagement ring from actor Brad Pitt.
Procop’s website says the “first funds from our collaboration together have been dedicated to the Education Partnership for Children in Conflict (founded by Jolie) to build a school in Afghanistan.”
“Beyond enjoying the artistic satisfaction of designing these jewels, we are inspired by knowing our work is also serving the mutual goal of providing for children in need,” the website quotes Jolie.
Style of Jolie offers versions of the actress’s red-carpet baubles including a necklace that she wore to the 2010 premiere of her movie “Salt”.
Previously available through private arrangement, the jewelry is now also sold through Kansas City retail jewelry store Tivol. All profits go towards underwriting future schools.
Jolie follows in the stiletto-steps of other celebrity philanthropists: Madonna and Oprah Winfrey have patronized schools in Malawi and South Africa, with mixed success. The Academy Award-winning actress expects that the business model will allow her to build additional schools for children in crisis around the world.
School development sustained by continual sales of opulent luxury jewelry is a concept as brilliant as a precious gem. There’s buzz that a ring capped with a 27-carat emerald covered costs of this particular project.
Writer Robert Ludlum said, “The most precious jewels are not made of stone, but of flesh.”
Green Prophet – and Ms. Jolie – agree.
Image of Jolie in Afghanistan from UNHCR; Jolie in gemstones from Robert Procop
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Good point, Elle. Motivation isn’t as important as outcome – and it seems this outcome is good.
Well, I’d say that she is doing her usual thing of grabbing the spotlight so she can sell, sell, sell her celebrity and keep her millions/billions (whichever category she falls into these days) as well make herself a future spot in government for the time when she loses her looks but retains her allure with such types. However, she is doing something. That’s more than I can say for the US government. They help make war, train people to blow the place up and then walk away leaving a big mess. So, as mixed as these celebrity based projects have been over time, at least it’s something.