About a month ago, I was invited by my friend Katie to a Sseko trunk show she was hosting online. I was immediately memorized by the mission to do something tangible for women in Uganda. Many times you hear about companies that send supplies, for example TOMS that provides a pair of shoes for each pair of shoes you buy, or a portion of sales benefitting families in a third world country. But Sseko founder, Liz Forkin Bohannon, is asking for our help to change their world. While volunteering in Uganda for 6 months following college graduation, she saw the need for specific and continued change.

In the past 3 years, Liz has worked with women in Uganda to provide a factory job to 50+ women. In the Sseko factory, women are paid what is equal to a US teacher's salary, come to a clean and safe working environment where they are treated with respect and provided skills to support their families and give them the opportunities to fulfill their own dreams.

Some women are "veterans", like Aunt Matilda who lost her husband. With 7 children and 11 grandchildren under her responsibility, her only opportunity to work was in a rock quarry. Sseko provided her with a good paying job and her dream is to buy a home for she and her family and become a landlord.

Other young women are working to support their dreams of a college education. Both young men and women have a short 9 month period of time between the completion of secondary school and college to earn the tuition. Sseko helps these young ladies through a good paying job and tuition assistance and last year Liz saw to it that 19 women had the support to get their college education.

All of this means something tangible to these women. By buying Sseko products, we are not only giving them their next meal, but we're giving them an opportunity to make a better life. To show their families what it means to earn respect and the help from women globally.

All of the "vegan" leather in the world will not stop the production of cows needed world wide for meat. Sseko takes their mission a step further and extends its reach to the surrounding communities in Uganda. The leather is locally sourced in Uganda and is the by-product of the cattle slaughtered for beef. Purchasing the left over leather allows both the rancher and Sseko to benefit from waste.

Sseko is helping create a self-sustaining community on the other side of the world - and the only thing you have to do is buy one of these beautiful bags, a pair of the best sandals I've ever owned, indulge your trendy side with some new Brave jewelry or find you perfect summer go to dress style. With each item purchased, you get a little card signed by the artist who created YOUR item. You can then go to the Sseko page and learn a little bit more about them (even watch a video about what Brave means to them.)

Add this date to your calendar next week and be on hand for giveaways and an explanation of this wonderful company by my new friend Monique.

Ride this beautiful wave with me!