Enlarge
Can something as simple as old leather airplane seats make a profound impact? For students in the College of Business Administration’s Social Enterprise Consulting class, the answer is a resounding “yes.”
Last summer, six students embarked on a Study Abroad trip to Costa Rica, spending 16 days immersed in the world of Wearsos, a pioneering social enterprise. Wearsos is on a mission to breathe new life into seemingly mundane materials – the leather seats from refurbished Southwest Airlines planes.
Through ingenuity and craftsmanship, Wearsos helps local artisans upcycle these discarded seats, transforming them into stylish and durable bags. But their work goes beyond mere fashion statements; it’s a testament to the power of sustainability and social responsibility.
Wearsos has been one of the clients for ACU’s Social Enterprise Consulting class for several years, says Dr. Laura Phillips, associate professor of management sciences, who developed the hands-on course with Dr. Sarah Easter, assistant professor of management sciences.
Since 2019, students have traveled during Spring Break to the village of Turrialba to work with Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza, or CATIE, a regional center dedicated to research and graduate education in agriculture, and the management, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
The first three years, students focused on conducting marketing research and creating digital marketing content in support of a network of female entrepreneurs interested in offering experiential tourism opportunities as a means to provide sustainable livelihoods to their communities.
Enlarge
In 2022, the focus shifted to a new project through Southwest Airlines’ Repurpose with Purpose initiative. The airline donated approximately 18 tons of leather, with more to come, that was removed from planes being refurbished.
With each trip, the students have helped Costa Rican entrepreneurs reach new levels of developing and expanding their small businesses.
Last summer’s trip was special because two ACU alumnae, Katie Coldwell and Courtney Miller, both employees of Southwest Airlines, accompanied the students to offer business advice and see firsthand how their donated leather was being put to use.
With the help of ACU students, Wearsos recently launched a product line that includes handbags, backpacks, crossbody bags, luggage tags and other items created by local artisans.
The students gained valuable experience while using their business skills to do good in the world.
“I have always been interested in experiencing some sort of Study Abroad program, and this allowed me to dive into a new culture while also learning about international business by experiencing it first hand,” said Emiley Hale, senior marketing major from Hamilton, Texas.
The experience encouraged her to reflect on her life and future career, she said. “My eyes were opened to so many new ideas and ways of life that I have never experienced before, and it provided great motivation for me to be selfless and to be curious when trying to understand new things and new ideas.”
Her classmate Reighna Vann, junior marketing major from Missouri City, Texas, was similarly impacted.
“I gained a different perspective being able to see things from their point of view,” Reighna said. “I learned so much about the culture of Costa Rica, even just through the few people we met. I am so grateful that I was able to have this opportunity and wish time hadn’t gone by so fast.”
–Robin Saylor
April 10, 2024