Agnes

NAME: Agnes

ABOUT: Agnes is our trusty Procurement Manager, and we’d be truly lost without her. She helps with anything and everything Sseko-from supply errands to quality control to workshop maintenance. Aggie is our go-to girl. She is intelligent, witty, quick-to learn, stylish, kind, and dedicated!

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Aggie has big plans. She would like to pursue her masters degree, become a good teacher, and have a family (2 kids is the plan). She’d like to be involved in leadership and has her eyes set on working with the UN someday. And they'd be lucky to have her.

Emma

NAME: Emma

ABOUT: If you walk into the Sseko workshop, it will not be long before you meet Emma. Emma works as a Floor Manager. She oversees the daily production, manages staff, and often steps in to help with production herself. Emma has a strong personality and a great sense of humor. She has the ability to balance professionalism and efficiency with just the right amount of fun and laughter.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Emma is working on completing her Bachelors Degree at Makere University currently. She would like to become a financial analyst and investor, with dreams of impacting Uganda and beyond. She also has dreams of getting married and having a family someday.

Florence

NAME: Florence

ABOUT: Florence is one of our incredible seamstresses, who sew the beautiful straps which adorn your Ssekos. She is mother to 7 children and serves as one of the “aunties” at Sseko. She has a motherly love that fills a room, a laughter that makes you smile just hearing it, and wise words to share when times get difficult. With all of the young women working around Sseko, it’s nice to have the comfort of an auntie around for everyone to look up to.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Florence dreams of someday having an orphanage in West Nile, the area of Uganda she comes from.

Robinah

NAME: Robinah

ABOUT: Robinah is sister’s with Rebecca, one of the first Sseko women. Robinah has moved through a few phases of life during her time with Sseko. She was the first Sseko bride in 2010, and the next year, she had the first Sseko baby! She is a sweet spirit with a warm smile. She is hardworking and dedicated to her job as a strap-sewing seamstress.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Robinah would like to continue working to support her family and new baby. Eventually, she’d like to have more children and be able to support them as an independent, working woman.

Allen

NAME: Allen

ABOUT: Allen is a shoe expert. She specializes on one of our machines but has mastered every step in the shoe-assembly process. Allen is a strong, independent woman with a confident attitude preceding her. She is a mother to one daughter, precious little Shiraz, who she loves singing and dancing with. She is incredibly stylish and impresses us with her lavish outfits and hairstyles on a regular basis.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Allen’s goal is to remain a responsible mother and hopes to someday send her daughter to University. She also dreams of setting up a foundation, which benefits orphans in Uganda.

Matilda

NAME: Matilda

ABOUT: Matilda is another favorite auntie. She is a proud mother of 7, who brings her motherly love to our workshop everyday. She is a master of sewing the loops into the sandals, and she is hard working day in and day out. English isn’t Matilda’s first language, so we stumble over communication at times, but the overall interactions with Matilda are filled with smiles, hugs, and the occasionally dancing. Oh, can this Auntie dance!

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Matilda dreams that someday she will become a landlord.

Joyce

NAME: Joyce

ABOUT: Joyce is the resident class clown. She’s always good for a sarcastic comment in staff meetings and loves to tease her coworkers. But at the end of the day, Joyce is one of our best workers. She’s a quick-learner, eager to work on the new machines, and master another skill. She meets every challenge set before her and blows goals out of the water with new production records. And she does it all with attitude.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Joyce dreams of having a big house with a happy family, of owning land, and having her own business.

NAME: Teopista

ABOUT: Teopista specializes in and manages Sseko’s strap department. She has an eye for details and quality. Teopista is an incredibly hard worker, who has a creative mind, level-headed demeanor, and easy-going attitude. She always has good ideas to share and solutions ready as problems arise.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Teopista is finishing her degree in Information Technology and is on track to graduate from Makerere University in the Spring of 2012. She dreams of oneday having a family and being self employed. Once she has the capital, she’d like to open a computer skills training business.

NAME: Sharon

ABOUT: Sharon works as a strap master seamstress. She is a quick-learner, diligent with all the work she’s given. She’s the type of person who makes your spirit feel happy from talking to her, and at the end of each interaction, you just want to hug her. Sharon is incredibly loving and generous to her family and friends and is a joy to have around. She’s said that “keeping quiet makes me sick,” so if you ever need a good chat, Sharon is your girl.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Sharon hopes that in the future, she will be successful and able to help orphans and those in need.

NAME: Florence Jr

ABOUT: Florence is a quiet but strong, hard worker. She is reserved, humble, and has a strong work ethic. She takes initiative in her work and shows great interest in continuing to learn and improve her skills. She enjoys playing netball and chatting with her friends.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Florence dreams of becoming a business lady and a responsible mother. She would like to someday own a house and become a landlord. She also dreams of traveling abroad and being able to send her kids through university.

NAME: Recheal

ABOUT: Recheal is a soft-spoken, sweet presence. As soon as she began working with Sseko, she caught on and quickly became one of the most detail-oriented, perfectionist shoe makers. Her style has flare, which often includes bright hair and eye-catching outfits. She enjoys being with her friends and telling funny stories.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Recheal has goals to help her family members and someday become a business woman.

NAME: Dorothy

ABOUT: If you get to spend a few moments of your day with Dorothy, they will be bright moments. She is quick to smile and crack a joke. She is a loving, caring woman with sunshine seemingly radiating from her. She is a hard worker who willingly goes the extra mile and has perfected the art of making a Sseko.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE:  Dorothy dreams of advancing her studies, owning a business, and adventuring around the world.

NAME: Alice

ABOUT: Alice began working at Sseko as a cook and cleaner, helping to keep the ladies fed and the curtains washed. Before long, she was helping with shoe production while she waited for the water to boil. She has worked her way up to machine work and full time production because of her dedication and assertive attitude. She enjoys making all sorts of jokes and having fun around the Sseko workshop.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Alice would like to continue with her education and become a reputable professional, as well as raising a family. She would eventually like to start up an enterprise that creates jobs for others.

NAME: Annett

ABOUT: Annett joined Sseko to assist with cooking and cleaning around the workshop. It is a part time position, but within her first week she was workign full time. Annette has made herself available to do whatever job is in need of doing. She is able to fill needs and step in wherever she is needed. She has a warm, sincere smile that lights up the room. Annette has two children, who she supports through her work with Sseko.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Annett would like to go back to school, become a business woman and a landlord someday.

Name: Esther

ABOUT: It takes a special person to do quality control. It takes an eye for detail, patience, and dedication. Meet Esther, whose job at Sseko is to do quality control checks, and she is great at it. Esther has a quirky, fun attitude and is full of energy and laughter. She loves to dance and listen to music, but she tries to avoid boring parties.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Esther would like to continue with her education and eventually start a business. She also dreams of having a family someday.

NAME: Faith

ABOUT: Faith is a quiet but strong presence. She works hard and takes great pride in her work as a member of the sole-producing team. Faith graduated from Kyambogo University in 2011 with a Bachelors in Management Science. She is also a graduate of Cornerstone Leadership Academy and is an example to our younger women who just finished last year.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Faith hopes to someday become an auditor.

NAME: Sylvia

ABOUT: Sylvia is a jack of all trades. She started working on straps and earned a reputation as the best and fastest ironer. When she switched to working on shoes, she became an expert at each step. She catches on quickly and consistently beats personal and team goals for production. She is hard working and reliable but knows how to crack and joke and have fun in the process.

GOALS & DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Sylvia would like to go further with her studies and someday become a business woman.

Name: Beatrice

About: Beatrice has a very keen eye for design and is an invaluable member of the design team. She brings many years of experience and expertise working with a variety of unique handmade crafts, and still maintains her own business as well. Beatrice has an inner joy and a motherly love that brightens any room. She is definitely more than meets the eye however. Beatrice is from a village in the northernmost region of Uganda, bordering South Sudan. Most of her family has been killed by rebels, and she suffered the loss of her husband who passed away from AIDS. Through all her struggles, she is an amazingly strong woman, and passionate about hard working and taking care of her family. 

Goals and Dreams for the future: Beatrice’s dream is for her children to have the opportunity to attend university and find jobs. She also hopes that her children will be well adjusted adults even after losing their father. She dreams that her bead business will grow, and that she will be able to someday have a house of her own.

Name: Vicky

About: Vicky is a creative genius and Design Team Manager. She lends her knowledge and skills to the ladies on her team, and inspires them to develop their talents further. Vicky is not only a wife and mother of one, but a fashion designer. She has a small studio where she makes and sells clothes. Vicky always looks very fashionable, and dazzles us with her own designs and creations that she wears to work every day.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Vicky dreams of being an artistic and famous designer. She would like her small business to grow. Vicky also dreams of having four children and a happy family.

Name: Josephine

About: Josephine is another creative mind on the design team. Before coming to Sseko she worked with many types of fabric, and has quickly learned and flourished in working with leather and beading. Josephine enjoys her large family, as well as spending time with her friends. She likes to laugh and have a good time, and her sweet spirit is evident in her frequent smiles.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Josephine dreams of studying design at university. She would like to be a business woman, designing things for ladies and selling them in her own boutique. She also dreams of marrying and having a family someday.

Name: Harriet

About: Harriet’s endearing and thoughtful personality is just one of the reasons we love her. Her sense of style is astounding, and she always looks polished from head to toe. Harriet’s good taste combined with her many artistic skills are a priceless asset to the design team. Harriet is a family girl and while she lives with her 6 sisters, they often return to their village to visit their mother and enjoy each others company. Harriet has finished her studies at Nkumba University, where she studied accounting.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Harriet dreams of getting married and having a family. She also dreams of someday having her own house and business. Such a talented young lady that she is, we have no doubt she will work hard to make her dreams come true.

Name: Jennifer

About: Jennifer is another much loved Auntie at the Sseko workshop. She works on the sole team, and is cared for by all the Sseko ladies. Jennifer lends her detailed eye to the sole production process, which she has developed from working with paper beads and jewelry. She is a widow and mother of 6 children and 2 adopted children, who she loves with all her heart. Jennifer is from a small village in the region of West Nile in northern Uganda, and enjoys visiting her hometown to visit her family and enjoy the local fish from the Nile River.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Jennifer dreams of owning her own house. She also dreams that all of her 8 children with be able to attend university and find jobs.

Name: Jackline

About: Jackline has managed to learn every single process of the sandal making process in a very short amount of time. Since she joined our Sseko team she’s become another part of our family and we’re inspired by her desire to learn and motivation to excel. Jackline’s smile melts your heart and it’s definitely contagious. Jackline is from Arua, an area in northernmost Uganda, and while she lost her parents at a very young age, she is thankful for her auntie and brothers who still live in the area. She also has high ambitions and dreams for her son who has just finished secondary school.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Jackline dreams to develop her tailoring skills and learn to be a designer. One day she hopes to use her design skills and eye for detail to start a business of her own.

Name: Susan

About: Susan is a quiet lady, but dedicated to her work and an invaluable asset to our design team. She has a certificate in painting and has a detailed eye for design. She is an inspiration to all of the Sseko ladies as she encourages them to work hard. Her husband is a chef and she enjoys eating the pastries that he makes. She loves her five year old son and is very thankful that he can attend pre-primary school. Susan’s favorite thing to cook and eat is chicken and rice.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Susan dreams of developing her skills in painting and design. She hopes that one day she may also start a small business running a salon.

Name: Sarah

About: Sarah is our Sseko cook and respected ‘Auntie’. She takes good care of all of us here at the workshop and is attentive to each of our specific tastes. She works hard and makes magic on her charcoal stove to deliver delicious and satisfying meals every day. Sarah’s good humor and dry wit keeps us laughing during long days at the workshop. A mother of three, she loves her children and works hard to provide for them. Her favorite thing to cook is pilau and meat.

Goals and Dreams for the future: Sarah dreams of building her own home. She also hopes that her two youngest children will be able to attend school.