Causecast

by SARAH NELSON, Contributing Writer

We don’t always expect rock stars to be extremely innovative when it comes to philanthropy – giving some of their millions away to charitable causes is enough to make us like them a little more. But when it comes to rocking at doing good, Bono holds the crown. In case you’ve been deprived of iconic music over the last three decades, Bono is the frontman for U2.

In 2005, Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, founded socially conscious clothing company, Edun with a mission of forging fashionable organic clothing that creates sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities in developing nations. A portion of the profits earned go to benefit War Child International, a network of organizations and individuals working to help children around the world affected by war.

Over the last century, more than 60 million people have lost their lives to war. More than 80 percent of that number is made up of civilian women and children. Furthermore, those that survive the war’s devastation are often left physically handicapped or psychologically traumatized. Multiple generations of children in Central Africa have known nothing but violence due to conflicts that have carried on for decades. Even when a war ends, recovery requires decades of rebuilding the individual communities and the country as a whole.

War Child International uses some of life’s greatest distractions – music, sports and creative projects to help children recover from the trauma associated with war. The organization believes that the answer to achieving peace can only come from investing in hope for future generations. Edun has focused much of their efforts on aiding those affected by war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Edun manufactures most of its clothing line in Sub-Saharan Africa providing in an effort to support economic development in areas affected by the instability of war.

Edun and its partnership with War Child International is far from Bono’s first philanthropic mission. The man is a rock star with a seriously altruistic rap sheet. Bono is also a major player in the ONE Campaign to make poverty history. He’s the founder of DATA, which is now part of the ONE campaign and (RED), a campaign to provide anti-retroviral therapy for AIDS victims in Africa.

War Child International is reaching hundred of thousands of children impacted by war around the globe. You can be part of the peace effort by donating online, hosting a fundraising event or supporting partner organizations like Edun.

Check out Bono’s other causes: ONE and (RED), to get involved in the fight against poverty and AIDS.

Photo by xrayspx, flickr.