November 12, 2008

The small Rugerero Survivors village in western Rwanda is home to many survivors of that country's violent past. The villagers hand press sunflower oil, that they then sell, to support themselves. Now, a grant awarded to Graphic Design Program Director Jody Graff and the Westphal College by Sappi Fine Paper's Ideas that Matter program will enable our students to work with the villagers to create product packaging and brand identity so that their sunflower oil can be sold throughout their country and beyond.

Sappi's Ideas that Matter program is the only grant giving program for the graphic design profession and has funded over 225 projects with over eight million dollars since 1999. Jody Graff explained, "Our students will use their training and design skills for a humanitarian effort that will affect many lives." Click here to read more about the Sappi grants on Techpedia.org.