Change the Congo: Falling Whistles 5 Boys Collection
Falling Whistles has been doing some excellent work in helping change around the dire situation over in the Congo in Africa (which, by the way, is a totally different country than Uganda, which has just passed a very fucked up law). Since 2008, they’ve been selling whistles, manufactured by London’s oldest makers of such things, to bring light to the plight of kids in the Congo who have been forced into the front lines of battle with nothing more in their hands than this simple instrument. The whole thing began when Founder Sean Carasso met five boys in a military encampment in Congo. Within the world’s deadliest war, the five boys had been taken from their homes and thrown into combat as child soldiers forced to fight for two opposing rebel armies. But when asked if that made them enemies, they laughed. One boy reached over and kissed the other boy saying, (after the jump)
“We are only boys, how can we be enemies?” In a story of vulnerability, courage, and solidarity, their brand new 5 Boys Collection revisits the original whistleblowers. “Our story is really their story,” Sean Carasso says. “Across the world, our generation is the largest and most connected in history. The 5 Boys Collection asks the same question the boys asked – how can we be enemies?” In effect, they’ve transmogrified a symbol of terror into one of power and enlightenment and more, with proceeds from the sales going towards improving the lives of the Congolese people (check their website, they’ve got excellent details on their good work). And really, that’s an accessory that looks good on the inside and out. Just $59 for one here.
