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

  • 1

    Undertook a successful collaboration with renown designer Tory Burch for Spring 2013 collection

  • 2

    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

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Programs & Projects