International Women’s Day // Mend seamstresses inspire change

As women across the world make significant contributions to community development, the seamstresses of Mend are playing their part in northern Uganda. Each woman is a mother, and each has become a role model not only to her children but also within a region overcoming social and economic vulnerability.

Our friends at the Half the Sky Movement put it well: “If greater income equality was achieved across gender lines, this could help decrease poverty through the generations.” It’s been proven that women are more likely than men to invest their income in things like nutrition, medicine, education and housing, all of which positively impact their families.

Our seamstresses are doing just that, investing the money, knowledge, skills and confidence received from Mend and their own income generating activities (IGAs) into their households and communities.

Recently, the seamstresses have been sharing details about the success of their investments.

Here are some examples:

Adok Evelyn invested a significant sum of money into her local alcohol brewing business. This investment increased the success of her business and helped her to save extra money to pay school fees for her four children at the start of the recent term.

Since learning advanced tailoring skills at Mend, Amono Lilly is involved in another project making bags out of African print fabrics and selling them locally. She recognizes the importance of networking to create a loyal customer base.

Langee Vicky continues to make school uniforms through the contract she signed this year. She plans to use this additional income to help her brother who is about to enroll in university.

Adong Marget plans to work with her own low-interest savings and loan group in her community to help support other members of Mend when it comes to making their own investments and learning more about savings practices.

The fact that the Mend ladies continue to grow in confidence and feel ownership over their finances and investments is a true step towards gaining equality and influence within their communities. In a society characterized by gender inequality and stigma, their strength in this realm is remarkable.

Join us in working for female equality and global progress in honor of International Women’s Day, globally recognized on March 8 each year.