ABOUT US

The Challenge

In the poorest communities women are frequently illiterate and don’t have access to training and education. They are also frequently the sole provider for their family. Everybody knows moms are often the hardest working people in the community, but economic opportunities are rare and working outside the home is next to impossible, even if they had a job opportunity. Sadly, those opportunities seldom ever come. So how do you help provide meaningful employment to a woman in this situation?

What We Don’t Do: Charity Export

Lots of well meaning charities attempt to get African women to make items – so that they can be exported and sold in the U.S. to good hearted buyers. The problem is – the women never learn how to sew & sell within their own community. And aside from their own employment – the community isn’t ever impacted. The problem with this “charity export” model is that the aspiring seamstresses never identify the entrepreneurial options that will work within their local context. Additionally, the entire operation is dependent on the “charity exporter” finding ways to successfully sell the items. Usually they aren’t merchants with significant retail experience. And as we all know – retail is a brutal business and items quickly go into and out of vogue. In our view the “charity export” model is not the best way to empower women in an impoverished community.

The Solution

Entreprenerial sewing & tailoring is a perfect solution. The work can be done at home, when time permits, and the extra income can revolutionize a household budget. Additionally, sewing doesn’t require reading or writing – so literacy is not an issue. The simple provision of a sewing machine, and the training to use it, combined with sales and marketing training, truly can revolutionize a woman’s life. But it’s not just her life that is changed – it’s also the lives of her children and the entire community.

More About Our Purposeful Products

Our sewing cooperative focuses on creating purposeful products that directly support two vital community needs – Health and Education. Our products include; Re-usable Feminine Hygiene pads, Re-usable baby diapers, back-packs, book bags, shirts, shorts, dresses, skirts, and school uniforms including sweaters. Each product is designed to either be gifted to students, or sold to local community members for a low price.