Pamela Acaye: Empowering Women in Kampala's Kireka Slum

“While doing development and social work in Kampala, I saw first hand the difficult lives of internally displaced women in Namuwongo and Acholi quarters in Kireka. I have thus embarked on combining my passion for social activism through theatre with design, fashion and art.” Pamela, who now spends 3 days a week in Kireka, shared.

Via Acaye Designs, Pamela will work with these women on quality enhancement workshops for their bead work, tailoring and craft making skills so that they can attract higher prices and become self-sufficient.

Plans include starting a workshop with all the necessary equipment and mentoring in quality assurance, tailoring and design. In the long run, Pamela hopes that the women will start and sustain their own workshops and craft businesses.

It’s uplifting to learn about such great stories in a place where people are living in abject poverty. Adele met a 58 year old woman who is single-handedly taking care of 23 people! Not only is she a victim of AIDS but Kony’s army has been responsible for the kidnapping of her children (some are still missing) and serious assaults on her grandchildren (Her orphaned grandson Amos bears severe burns from a fire in the village 2 years ago).

Despite the hardships and tragedies endured by the slum’s inhabitants, Adele was inspired by everybody’s kindness and their huge unrelenting smiles.

Have a thankful weekend everybody!