The Blue Sweater (but in Senegal)

For all my socent nerd friends out there, this is a story you will want to hear.

For all my non-socent nerd friends who are skeptical that the world is small, read on.

There is a famous book in the Social Enterprise world called “The Blue Sweater“. It is by Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder of an amazing organization, Acumen Fund. Her book starts by describing how in the middle of rural Rwanda, she spots a boy wearing a sweater she had donated years ago, with her name still scribbled on the label. It’s a far fetched, but beautiful story. Even I had my hesitations about it’s validity, but now I have no doubts because I had a similar experience in rural Thies, Senegal, in a village called Refane Mboss.

I was in Refane Mboss last week shadowing one of our field staff when a boy in a purple shirt walked by. There were kids everywhere and I almost didn’t look up. I’m so glad I did. As the boy walked by, I saw that there was a familiar looking logo on his back. I thought for sure I was seeing things. But, looking closer, the familiar waves of the Goofy Foot logo were clear and I was giddy.

How in the world did I end up in the exact village during the same morning a young man name Mordou was wearing a hand me down shirt from my cousin’s surf school on the other side of the world? The world is truly tiny.

Here are two photos of the boy: one when I realized what it was and one after I had my translator explain to him why I was so excited and if I could take another photo of him.

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