Photo Friday // Who Made Your Mend Bag?
Since it was launched in 2013 Mend’s Mini Messenger bag has received quite a few compliments. It is compact when compared to our traditional Messenger bag, comes in three beautiful colors and features genuine leather accents and durable canvas. What’s not to love? At Invisible Children, we are more excited by the fact that this bag was […]
An empowerment story // Lamunu Irene
As the Mend program comes to a close, its beneficiaries are models of empowerment. This is a story about 22 war-affected mothers who utilized skills training and education to improve their quality of life, invest in a sustainable future, and grow as leaders within their families and communities. When Irene was 16-years-old, the Lord’s Resistance […]
Collaboration // Made in Uganda
Earlier this month, Mend launched the Limited Edition Zip Pouch, just in time for Mother’s Day. Our hope was that it could be a gift for moms around the world made by and to empower mothers here in Uganda. This time Mend’s product did more than just support the empowerment of our own seamstresses. We partnered […]
Mend // It’s not the end, it’s a new beginning
As the Mend program comes to a close, its beneficiaries are models of empowerment. This is a story about 22 war-affected mothers who utilized skills training and education to improve their quality of life, invest in a sustainable future, and grow as leaders within their families and communities. “I am no longer staying in that […]
Photo Friday // Mend’s Akulu Nancy
After Joseph Kony and his rebel army terrorized northern Uganda, many women like Mend’s Akulu Nancy struggled to support themselves and their families. But now she has reason to smile. With the money Nancy has made from Mend, she has been able to make a number of investments. She pays for school fees and uniforms […]
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 […]
Mend // From our heart to yours
Last Friday, the seamstresses and staff at Mend celebrated Valentine’s Day together at the workshop. The ladies took tea together outside, as they do each day, but this time they also received personalized valentines from Mend’s social enterprise manager. It’s never hard to remember why these women inspire us through their resilience in light of […]
Mend // Growing in Confidence and Community Investment
Langee Vicky, a seamstress at Mend, has her own sewing machine at home. But she doesn’t let it sit idle. Instead, Vicky has started making school uniforms. She pays a small monthly fee to rent a stall at the market and was quickly asked by a local woman if she was able to make uniforms. […]
Strong Women, Strong Communities
At Invisible Children, we believe in the equal and inherent value of all human life. This makes campaigns such as “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” particularly important. “16 Days” is a global campaign running from November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day. […]
“Let Him Return Home” // Messages from Mend
Why do we keep talking about “Come Home” messaging? Because it has proven to be the most successful tool in fostering defections from the Lord’s Resistance Army. 89% of recent LRA escapees have said that Come Home programs played a role in their peaceful surrender. Recently, some of the seamstresses at Mend mentioned the desire […]