Please vote for awamu in the Source Ethical Fashion awards

An extremely exciting opportunity has come up, and we hope you can lend us a hand… Please will you help by voting for awamu in the Source Ethical Fashion awards?

We would love to be nominated for ‘Ethical Fashion Africa. Judges of this award are looking for businesses and initiatives that are proving the potential for fashion made in Africa to change lives, address environmental issues and reach international markets with outstanding products and business models.’

You can nominate us here.

WHY vote for us?

Just look at what we have achieved in our very first year in the slums of Kampala, Uganda:

• Raised enough to support 48 children through seven years of primary education
• Given more than 70 children opportunities to leave the slum for a day to play and have fun.
• Helped 16 women earn extra income for their families – and we are about to launch a business training and mentoring programme for a further 80 women.

But the impact on the women and children we work with can’t be quantified in  numbers. As Regina, guardian of 13 orphaned children, volunteer and our hero at one of the women’s groups we work with, told us: “It’s wonderful to know we have friends – it gives me hope and strength to continue our work.”

How does awamu work? 

We raise money by selling beautiful clothes and homeware. Our products are all made by women in Kampala, and the profits are fed directly back into their communities. 

We use recycled and upcycled fabrics and fittings where possible. Our cotton tees and baby grows are fair-trade and use organic African cotton and non-toxic inks and we promote use of materials that will have a positive impact on the environment – for instance our recycled paper beads.

We use film and our website to give the women and children we work with a public platform and this has led to gaining the funding for a centre that will offer women and children support on issues that plague their lives like domestic violence, maternal health and child protection.

What drives awamu?

Regina and our other volunteers are the driving force behind transforming the lives of children in the slums of Kampala. And it is the energy and determination of women like Regina that inspires us. Our vision is to create a sustainable outlet for women involved in producing the goods we sell, so they can earn a living wage.

Where does the money go? 

We use 100 per cent of our profits to: provide education grants and materials for orphaned and vulnerable children, and establish training and mentoring programmes teaching vocational skills to women so they can start their own businesses.

And this is just the beginning of the journey – imagine what we could do with a little more publicity! Raising our profile would help us to change the lives of more children in the slums of Kampala and train more women in the skills they need to become independent.

So please help lift the profile of awamu by nominating us now.

Thank you in advance for your support and the encouragement you have already given to us.

Love from everyone at awamu, especially Emma, Steve and Kerry.

PS. You can watch our videos to hear from the women and kids we work with and what a difference we are making to the lives of children and women in Kamapala.