Sseko (say-ko) Designs recently contacted me, shared a little about what they do, and asked me if I wanted to get involved. Because this is such an awesome cause, I am happy to share their company with you and why it resonates with me!
Sseko is based in Uganda and sells adorable sandals and handbags in order to help women fulfill their educational and occupational dreams. During the obligatory 9 month gap between secondary schooling and university, Ugandans are expected to become employed and save money for their college education; however, jobs for women are difficult to come by, so Sseko stepped in and created opportunities for women to work by creating the products they sell on their website. They also teach the women financial responsibility by setting aside 50% of their income for tuition to ensure it is spent on their education. This system has been extremely effective and is helping women pursue their dreams!
Sseko fully supports women’s desires to choose their own path and does everything they can to help these women achieve their goals. They recently came out with the White Arrow Clutch Collection, a collection of African-made genuine leather and canvas clutches, and dedicated it to the Sseko Class of 2012. To celebrate their new college adventures, they are featuring these graduates on their blog, and encouraging their fans to share how they are following their dreams! For example, take Teddy, a young woman whose father died when she was in 5th grade from a respiratory illness. The cause of his death was easily curable, but due to the lack of doctor’s in her village, he passed away. This is when her dream of going to medical school began. Because of Sseko, she learned money management and was able to save for her tuition!
Although my circumstances are completely different, I am proud to say that I’ve taken my own path in life as well. After working hard in high school to get into the University of Michigan, I started to have doubts that attending university was really for me. After one year there, I realized that hair styling was what I really wanted to do, and made the decision to attend cosmetology school instead. This was questionable, considering that a college education is expected in the United States. Making the choice to go to cosmetology school seemed like a foolish move, but I had to do what was right for me.
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This isn’t the only decision I’ve made that has raised eyebrows. I met Kai when I was almost 19 and our relationship quickly developed. We were engaged ten months later, and married another ten months after that, when I was just 20 years old. I knew many disapproved of this due to the fact that we hadn’t dated very long and because of my young age, but it was the right choice for us and I am so glad we didn’t listen to others’ opinions.
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Other ways Kai and I have chosen our own paths include starting a photography business, moving my hair business to our home, and following my passion for style by creating Sidewalk Ready. We feel so accomplished and proud of everything we have achieved in our lives separately and together. From my experience, no dream is foolish, and I fully support anyone who works hard and takes chances in order to achieve their own personal goals.
Thank you to Sseko for reaching out and sharing your inspiring company and goals with me! Don’t forget to check out the White Arrow Clutch Collection by clicking on the image below, and you can read more inspiring stories from Sseko graduates here.
How have you chosen your own path?
- Kayls.
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This post resonates with me because I followed a similar path as yours. I went with the traditional college route for two years until I realized it just wasn’t me, and it wasn’t at all what I wanted to be doing. Once I stopped, I found my passion for baking, which I don’t think I would have realized without having all that extra time on my hands! I applied to a few culinary schools but before I even had the chance to enroll, I was hired as a pastry apprentice at a well-respected fine dining restaurant in my area. I worked there for about two years (worked my way up to pastry-cook) and then went on to be the head baker at a coffee shop in Philadelphia for another two years. These days I’m back in my hometown, working for a classic French bakery and honing all the skills I’ve previously learned, while picking up lots of new ones too! I love it so much, and I’m such a happier person since I found my ‘niche’. I know college is the path you’re told to take traditionally, but I don’t regret my decision for the world! It also helps not to be in debt these days
Thank you for sharing your story and allowing me to share mine.
Thank you for sharing your story. How inspiring!
What a great company with a beautiful mission. And congrats to YOU on all of your successes! It’s admirable how confident you are in your own decisions and where they’ve led you.
As a graduate fresh out of college, I’m still trying to find that path that’s right for me, but hopefully I’ll get there soon!
http://2ndhandknowledge.wordpress.com
Sounds like a cool company! I like how you worked your story into this. I enjoy reading other people’s stories about getting married young. I was a week away from 20, so it’s nice to hear that I’m not the only one who married that young
We had been dating for longer, but he was out of the county for the majority of the time, so a lot of people couldn’t understand how we had enough time to get to know each other. We also bought a house within the first year, which some people didn’t understand either. But we’re very happy with where we are in life, and we’re glad we made the choices we did.
I love hearing about your story and choosing the path that is right for you! I am at a point in my life where I need to make decisions that are right for me! This is super inspiring!
Carlee
Almost Endearing
this is an awesome post. top 5.
I am so proud of all you have, and will, accomplish! You are very special.
thanks for sharing this lovely post and story. it is always helpful for people to feel that they’re not alone in making their own decisions and forging their own paths. it’s admirable of you to share and gorgeous product you’re sharing!
kw, http://www.ladiesinnavy.com
What a worthy cause! I adore the brown and white clutch at the top left and the bottom left. So adorable and so worth it. Thank you for posting about it.
Thank you so much for your personal story. I’ve been a faithful reader almost from the start of your blog and never knew some of these things about you. I work with college students and see SO MANY of them going into extreme, ridiculous debt for a degree they aren’t even sure what to do with. I believe very strongly in education, but I see that our culture has created a very narrow definition of education. Consequently, those who choose to be educated in different ways, through trade schools, apprenticeships, or even just through working and getting some life experiences, are often looked down upon. I hope that the rising costs of higher education will have one positive outcome–that parents and young people will both open their minds to ALL the options available for education and that our now-traditional definitions of security and success will be challenged.
I really appreciate your support! Thank you so much for your opinion. It’s awesome to hear I’m not alone!
I am so happy to hear this! Sseko is an awesome company! I volunteer with a fair trade boutique (shameless plug: yobelmarket.com) that sells them, and the owners have visited the organization multiple times. I love hearing the stories from organizations like this, empowering woman to choose their paths and not be subject to their situations/other’s expectations, whatever that may be. Beautiful things happening in Uganda, and all over!
I’m happy that it resonated with you. I love companies like SSeko, too. It’s awesome to see how we can help others through our passions!