SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
Through the Association of Women Tie-Dyers Project and the Soussi Small Loans Project, we work directly with approximately 300 women entrepreneurs to sustainably grow their business. Our women artisans are provided with small business loans and materials (i.e. buckets, fabrics, pots, pans, colors) to run their businesses. Women artisans exchange lessons on the best way to further their businesses using our peer-to-peer learning platform.
We collaborated with renowned designer Tory Burch for her Spring 2013 collection. The tie-dye fabrics of our women artisans were showcased at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama wore a dress from the Tory Burch collaboration for the inauguration of her Drink Up Campaign in 2013.
We partnered with Lemlem, founded by Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede, to produce fabrics for their Fall 2014 collection.
We conducted a successful sustainable tie-dye training with our women entrepreneurs in the community of Modiya, Kindia in collaboration with Dr. Theanne Schiros that was featured in Folding Chair Journal. The women entrepreneurs learned how to dye with sustainable materials from their communities, including avocado pits, onion skins, and tea leaves. Part II of this training was conducted in the community and the partnership is part of the 6876km exhibition. This project is a zero-waste collection of textile art from start to finish, including the plants, and people who brought the collection to life. Participating women entrepreneurs received certificates of completion after each training.
We also implement agriculture development projects in Modiya, Kindia, and Kissidoougou (Yende,) Republic of Guinea. smallholder farmers and provided with funding to grow their community gardens. They are also provided with seeds, fertilizers, and tools to promote food security in the community and fight the effects of climate change.
key matrics
-
300+
women artisan partners working together across Guinea to increase their income
-
2
trainings on sustainable tie-dye
-
150
smallholder farmers running community farms to increase food security and income for their households
-
2,250
people impacted by our programs focused on economic development and skills training
1
Undertook a successful collaboration with renown designer Tory Burch for Spring 2013 collection2
Sponsored the businesses of 5 groups of women artisans through the Association of Women Tie-Dyers Project.3
Undertook a successful collaboration with renown super model Liya Kebede's brand Lemlem for Fall 2014.4
Implemented an Agriculture Development project in the Community of Modiya- providing seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to farmers in the community.5
Sponsored new groups of women entrepreneurs working on a variety of businesses including embroidery, crochet and soap-making
Stories
-
Get to know our Director of Programs and Evaluation who is a skilled strategist with a background in economic development.
-
Julia Busto lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and is a full-time student at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, pursuing an MPA in Health Policy and Management with a Specialization in Health Policy Analysis.
-
Lubiana is a junior at Baruch College majoring in Journalism. Her goal is to use her writing to empower others and share the stories of those that lack the platform.
-
Adam is a senior at Baruch College majoring in Economics and minoring in Political Science.
-
Tyrone Lin is a sophomore at Baruch majoring in Finance. He enjoys taking long walks and exploring new places in New York City.
-
Last month, Sahiyo hosted the webinar “Critical Intersections Between Anti-racism and FGC” which U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher moderated. The four experts panelists who are survivors of FGM were Ms. Leyla Hussein, Ms. Aarefa Johari, Ms. Aissata M.B. Camara and Ms. Sunera Sadicali. They discussed oppression, racism, culture, and female genital mutilation and the ongoing struggles they face while campaigning to end the practice.
-
Today we launched the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto that was assembled as a result of regional consultations held last month with over 1500 young people from 45 African countries.
-
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the kickoff of the #16DaysOfActivism. We partnered with the African Union Youth Envoy for a High Level Intergenerational Dialogue where we presented the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto and handed it over to the leadership at the African Union, UN Women, Action Coalitions leaders and Generation Equality Forum.
-
This year’s session of the United Nations General Assembly is like no other as the world is under lockdown due to COVID19. For the first time in history, one of the world’s most important meeting was be virtual as the world could not travel to New York City.
-
Last night, during the High Level week of United Nations General Assembly, we came together to celebrate people who are breaking their silence to end gender based violence.
Programs & Projects
-
We are working in Guinea and the U.S. to end FGM by empowering community members, especially young people.
-
We provide poor and ultra-poor people access to clean water and latrines.
-
We promote the economic independence of ultra-poor individuals, specifically women and children.
-
We provide access to quality education in order to increase the enrollment and retention of students, especially girls.
-
We donate medical supplies and equipments to hospitals in developing countries.
-
We provide interest free business loans to entrepreneurs (especially women) in order to boost their income.
-
We help women tie-dyers generate income by providing them with the tools, skills, and market they need.
-
We promote the education of poor and ultra-poor children by working with parents, students and teachers.
-
We promote health and sanitation in the poorest communities by mobilizing local resources.