Words by Smiley Team
Take a glance at these hand-painted doorsteps with "personalities", and you can’t help but smile – and that’s before you know how they support disadvantaged communities in Sri Lanka by providing them with an income.
‘Wedgie’ are ethically-made doorsteps created by Mark Scholes, 42, and Hayley Evans, 38, who live in Porto, Portugal with roots in the UK.
The couple met on the tropical island of Sri Lanka back in 2007. “Somewhere in between our 9 years of living on the island, we met a local fellow called Mahendra; a man who just so happened to own a small wooden handcraft workshop,” they tell Smiley News.
“We had our wedding coming up on the island and decided to offer Bride and Groom doorstops as our wedding gifts. They were such a hit that the Wedgie empire was born in 2014!”
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But the couple wanted to build a business that gives back. So, they decided Wedgie would be a part of an incentive scheme in Sri Lanka, aimed at the empowerment of rural communities.
Unpainted door stops are delivered directly to employees’ houses, along with paints, brushes, and tools. Once painted and completed, the Wedgies are paid for on collection. “This allows people in rural communities the convenience of earning an income whilst going about their daily routines,” say the couple.
“After living in Sri Lanka for 8 years we loved the country and the people. We could see the poverty inside the rural communities and wanted to give back in some way.”
Wedgie is also proud to be part of 1% For The Planet, donating 1% of their annual sales to environmental non-profits. Plus, they donate 20% of their profits from the sales of the 'Stronger Together' collection to the Rosie May Foundation.
“We've also previously donated to the NHS in response to Covid, the Royal Trinity Hospice and funded English language classes for local Sri Lankan children,” they add.
SUPPORT: Buy a doorstep to support rural communities in Sri Lanka.
DONATE: You can donate to the Rosie May Foundation, which commits to create a living legacy for girls.
