All eyes are on South Africa this month as the much anticipated World Cup kicks off - the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
South Africa is a country of breath-taking beauty, but staggering inequality. As some of the world's wealthiest celebrities make South Africa their home for the next month, let's hope that the legacy of this World Cup is not just about what happens on the pitch or the latest fashion sported by one WAG or another, but also about building a brighter future for some of the world's poorest people.
Decades of social and economic disenfranchisement for black South Africans could never be erased in the blink of an eye. It is highly debatable as to whether the World Cup will have a positive economic impact on the poorest members of society there. However, the raised profile of the country can certainly be a force for good. We can all play our part and perhaps speed the process of development along by ensuring that we buy ethically from this part of the world. South Africa leads the world in fair trade wine and as our ostrich shell bangle and tea light holder range shows, there are some unique and eye-catching products available. The ostrich shell items, handmade by local artisans for Cape Originals, provide much needed employment and training in an area of South Africa which is ravaged by poverty.
So as we watch our team battle it out in penalty shoot-outs, peering from behind a cushion with nerves jangling, perhaps we can do so with hope that South Africa's debut on the football world stage will leave a lasting legacy for the people of South Africa, regardless whether our team brings back the trophy.
The Cape Originals Team in South Africa