Tragedy struck for brothers Rob and Paul Forkan when they lost their parents in the 2004 Asian tsunami. Now, over ten years later, they're using their flip flop business to help other orphans.
The boys had an unusual childhood. They were just 11 and 13 when their parents, Kevin and Sandra, took them out of the UK education system and moved the family to Goa in India. Their parents were of the philosophy that they would receive a healthier and fuller education by traveling the world and helping others. There they did lots of voluntary work and mixed with the local community. It was when the family were on holiday in Sri Lanka that the tsunami hit. Although the children managed to escape, their parents tragically couldn't. But Paul says their upbringing meant they were able to cope with this tough blow. "Our parents gave us this confidence that we could do anything, that nothing was hard to achieve," says Paul.
What the boys did was to start a business selling ethically-sourced sandals. They're called 'Gandys' after the father of India's independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi. "He was in all our schoolbooks as kids; he's on all the money over in India; he's famous for wearing his flip flops," says Paul. The entire project was inspired by their parents’ philosophy, their globetrotting childhoods and what happened to them in Sri Lanka. Their parents had previously worked in the fashion industry before quitting their jobs and focusing on humanitarian projects. Thus, Gandys is a very fitting tribute to their lives. Gandys sells flip-flops and donates 10 percent of the profits from every pair sold to orphans around the globe. In conjunction with Gandys, the Forkans also founded Orphans for Orphans, a charitable organization dedicated to helping orphans. They say they can make a profit and do good at the same time: they give 10% of their profit to charity, and have set up their own foundation through which they've been able to open a children's home in Sri Lanka.
This year alone, Gandys has sold 250,000 pairs of flip flops, which is only expected to increase. In 2013, the business made around 1.2 million pounds ($1.8 million). With more profits, more orphans will receive assistance. Hence, it’s safe to say that the Forkan brothers are making their parents very proud.
The two brothers left the UK for India because _________.
A.the UK education system is not so good as that of India |
B.their parents had humanitarian projects in India |
C.the voluntary work in Goa attracted them |
D.their parents expected them to grow through travelling |
We can infer from the passage that _______.
A.the parents had great influence on the two brothers |
B.the two brothers were left hopeless after the tsunami |
C.their parents died soon after they settled in India |
D.the two brothers had a troubled childhood |
Why did the brothers name their sandals after Gandhi?
A.Because Gandhi wears and sells flip flops. |
B.Because Gandhi always helps orphans. |
C.Because Gandhi is influential in India. |
D.Because Gandhi fits into their lives in India. |
What can best describe the brothers?
A.Unlucky. | B.Modest. | C.Generous. | D.Ambitious. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Orphans for Orphans |
B.Making Parents Proud |
C.Gandys: Making Money and Doing Good |
D.Rise Up from Tragedy to Success |