Sseko Designs

Sseko Designs is a wonderful company with an even more wonderful mission. I am always so inspired when I see entrepreneurs develop a wonderful product and promote social responsibility at the same time.  It is a true testament that it is possible to generate profits and provide opportunities to others.  Companies like Sseko inspire me to become an entrepreneur and empower others across the globe.

Enough of my rambling though...

Here is the story of Sseko: A girl by the name of Liz was a communications major and decided to take a trip to Uganda after she graduated to learn more about non-profit journalism and PR.  On the way, she fell in love with a group of women who lived in a community called Cornerstone.

"Sseko \say-ko\ Designs was created to help these bright young women continue their education. The Ugandan school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.

Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for this nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war." -Liz, Founder of Sseko

Here are some of the shoes (my favorite are the striped!).  And the coolest part?  The laces are interchangeable, so you can buy one pair, and an extra pair of laces! (Also, they do custom colors for weddings)

Here are some of the wonderful and inspiring women who have been impacted by Sseko.