Who's up for it? Social tailoring in Kampala
In one of Kampala's poorest slums, seven women find a new beginning in sewing. Through social tailoring, the ‘Who's in?’ project offers them an opportunity for redemption and hope, turning hardship into a path of dignity and community.
Kampala, Uganda's capital, is one of the African cities with the highest urban population growth rates, and is characterised by the widespread presence of slums, i.e. informal settlements characterised by poverty, high population density, dilapidated buildings and a total lack of public services.
Among these, the Namuwongo slum stretches along the city's railway tracks; an estimated 20,000 people live in the area. Most of these live on casual jobs and informal economies. For women, the lack of education and practical/professional skills means that it is very difficult to find gainful and decent employment. As a result, many mothers find themselves forced into degrading and risky activities, such as prostitution, in order to provide for their families' basic needs.
The project ‘Who's running them? ’ aims to respond to the need to professionally train the most vulnerable and marginalised women of the Namuwongo slum, favouring the start-up of an income-generating activity, managed by the women themselves.
The project now has 7 direct beneficiaries (who were selected from among the 25 highly vulnerable women from the slum who, in June 2024, completed the ‘Sewing the future’ tailoring training cycle) who will then have the opportunity to set up a tailoring cooperative and launch their own product line, which will mainly consist of fabric toys and small items for interior decoration.
The project includes an initial training cycle on commercial issues, aimed at creating a brand and developing a communication campaign for toys, with the goal of donating a toy to the children of the Namuwongo slum for every sale. This will be followed by practical training in design and sewing with two artisans: a tailor from the Congolese community and an Italian designer experienced in social enterprise. At the end of the training, specific roles will be assigned to ensure the group's autonomy. After the first year, the women will train two new trainees each year from the slum, thus contributing to the expansion of the enterprise and supporting other young people.
‘Who's up for it?’ is not just a project, you know? It is an embrace of strength and hope,’ says Ermes (Kampala Project Manager for ISP), in that calm tone he always uses when talking about “his” Crested Women. ‘Every stitch, every seam tells the story of seven women who, thanks to ‘Together We Can...’ and Xmas Project, have found the courage to rewrite their own destiny. When I think of social tailoring, I am reminded of how it has become a safe haven for them. It is there that the skilled hands of the Crested Women intertwine with creativity and determination. They are much more than a group of seven women. They are a true community celebrating rebirth,’ she says, with a slight smile.
‘Here,’ she continues, ’laughter mingles with hard work, and every garment they create becomes a symbol of empowerment. It is extraordinary how, together, they manage to transform the fabric of their lives into something unique.’ Then she lowers her voice, as if reflecting: ‘Salima, Justine, Zaina, Agnes, Christine, Doreen and Sandrine... all of them come from the slum. They face difficulties every day that few of us can imagine. But despite it all, they strive with incredible strength to rewrite the narrative of those living in disadvantaged contexts.’
Ermes' voice deepens, as if speaking more to himself than to us. ‘You see, their presence is a symbol of hope. It is a demonstration that, even in the most difficult conditions, change can be sprouted. For me, following them closely is a privilege. They are not victims of their circumstances, but protagonists of their destiny. They fight every day for dignity, for equality and for a better future.’
He pauses, as if to collect his thoughts, then resumes. ‘Thanks to this path, they are not only elevating themselves, but also transforming the face of the slum. They have been following the path of theoretical and practical training for some time now. We do this not out of pity, but because these women have extraordinary talent and ability. And now, they have become a sartorial reality.’
With a look of deep admiration, she concludes: ‘With their strength and dedication, they have shown that they can change not only their lives, but also their community. And deep down, you know, they changed mine too.’
