You can't believe everything you read on the internet.

But if you heard a rumor about a Sseko d'USA tour, I am here to tell you that that is a certifiable, verifiable, undeniable fact. 

In just a couple of days we will embark on said tour. We are so excited to hit the road and start meeting new friends and spreading the Sseko love. 

Here is the deal. And here is where you (yes, you!) come in:

1.) We want to meet you. Have friends that you think would love Sseko? We want to meet them too. A huge part of this journey is building relationships as we tell our story. We want to meet people who are passionate about the things we love. And we want to meet friends doing awesome stuff in totally different ways. 

2.) Events! Would you be willing to gather some friends and host an event? This can be anything from our traditional sandal house party (ie. gather friends, eat some food, sell some sandals) to a backyard BBQ or a gathering at a local coffee shop to discuss the things Sseko cares about. We are still growing and learning a lot. We'd love to hear your thoughts about a whole host of issues. If you live in or near some of the cities we'll be journeying to, we'd just be pleased as punch if you'd host an event. 

3.) New retail partners! Part of our journey will include finding new retail partners to join us. If you know of a local store in any of the cities we will be visiting that you think might love Sseko, will you let us know about them? Better yet, next time you stop in, go ahead and show them your Ssekos (you DO wear them everyday, right?) and give them our contact info if they are interested and would like more information (liz@ssekodesigns.com) We'd love to drop by and meet them if they are interested in partnering with us. 

4.) Lastly, we are still looking for places to stay along the way. Luckily, we have a sweet mattress pad for the back of the Sseko mobile, but if you (or your great-aunt Boo Boo for that matter) has an extra room (or couch?) and would be willing to have us, we do make great Butternut Squash Pizza. (But, that is about it :)

We'll keep you updated about our journey through the blog and the "Road Trip" tab on this here website.

We'll also be doing fun surprise events and giveaways along the way. So follow us on Twitter to join the mobile party! 

I am also including our tentative schedule for Phase One below. Remember, this is just a tentative schedule! If your city is not included but on the route (or near the route) please let us know! 

Thanks for being a part of this journey. I hope we get to hang out soon!

Email us at liz@ssekodesigns.com if any of the above strikes your fancy!

Love, 
Liz and The Sseko Squad


Schedule! 

August 8th: Hit the Road!
August 8-13: Travelling to Northwest corner. (Stopping in Colorado and Idaho on the way!) 
August 13: Arrive in Seattle 
August 14-August 28: In Seattle! (And maybe other places in WA) 
August 28-Sept 20: In Portland, Eugene, Bend! 
September 20: Head south towards San Francisco. 
September 23: Arrive in San Francisco! 
September 23- October 7: San Fran! 
October 8: Head south! 
October 9- Oct 14: Santa Barbara 
October 14-20: LA/Orange County 
October 20: Arrive in San Diego! 
October 20-November 20: San Diego! 
November 20-30: Pheonix, Tuscon, Flagstaff. 
December 1-15th: Austin/San Antonio 
December 15- Leave for Uganda!

I am going to do my best to keep it as succinct as possible. But please, bear with me, here. 

Here is what I DON'T want to do. I don't want to tell you we have it all figured out. And don't want to in any way insinuate that we are doing things better than anyone else. What I DO wan't to do is start a conversation about this issue. 

While I was in Uganda for the first time, there was something that struck me about the "stuff" there.  It was such an interesting picture, to be in Uganda, a million miles from home and see young kiddos running around wearing what looked like to be clothes I might find in my closet circa 1995. At first it was amusing. You'd seeing a boda boda driver wearing an Backstreet Boys t-shirt. Or a little boy wearing a top with Barbie plastered to the front. I even saw a kid wearing a Mizzou Tigers (my alma mater!) shirt. 

I was pretty surprised by the lack of traditional dress and distinctly African fashion. Of course, it existed, but western clothes and fashion is far more prevalent. I would walk down to the Owino market in the middle of the city and literally wander for HOURS through a maze of used clothing. I mean, we are talking twisty miles of 12 foot mini-mountains of t-shirts, jackets, swim suits, business suits and shoes and shoes galore. And all it, clearly came from the West. 

I knew there was not a thriving fashion, garment, textile or footwear industry in Uganda. But what I didn't know was why.  I guess I just assumed it was the typical African culprits. You know, poor government policies, high transactions costs, poor infrastructure, etc. etc. But the more I thought about it, that didn't totally make sense. Because those are the things that plagued many of the countries that started in the garment manufacturing industry and are now experiencing some of the fastest economic growth in the world. And it hasn't always been that way. Perhaps there is another factor, unique to Africa methinks? 

When I started asking the question, the answer I got surprised me. 

It is really hard to compete with free. 

Did you know that the global trade of second-hand clothing industry is a multi-billion dollar a year business? 

I know this is getting long. But follow me for a few more minutes. Let's think about how that Mizzou T-shirt got to Uganda. And then think for a second about the implications that t-shirt has.

Ted drops off said t-shirt at his local Salvation Army along with all the other homecoming and fraternity shirts he has managed to collect over his college years. 

There is a likelihood (and high probability) that Salvation Army doesn't even unpack that donation before they sell a large majority of their second hand clothing donations to a dealer for a pretty nominal price per pound. Those dealers then export to developing countries and sell these donations to second hand clothing dealers in these countries for a 300-400% mark up. 

Those dealers then sell the second hand clothing in the markets, typically making just enough profit to buy another bale of clothing and do it all over again. (Bloemen, T-Shirt Travels.)

Are you still with me? Now, let's just for a second talk about what happens when a local market is flooded with lower-than-cost-of-production (aka free or donated) goods. 

This isn't complicate economics I am asking you to consider. You set up a lemonade stand and sell reasonably priced tasty treats. And someone sets up next you. Only they are giving their lemonade away practically for free...

Here are some things to consider: 

The second-hand clothing industry has been steadily growing over the past two decades. That means, people have been giving (and selling) clothes to developing economies more than ever.

Meanwhile...here is how that increase in donated goods has actually affected some African economies:

In the 1990s there were approximately 41 textile and clothing industries in the West African region. By 2004, only six companies were operating at full capacity. And only three of these companies had satisfactory levels of performance and output. 

In Nigeria, one of the largest producers of textiles in Africa, upwards of 80,000 jobs have been lost in the textile and clothing industry in the past ten years. (Barber, 37.)

In the early 1990s, in Zambia, there were 85 clothing manufacturers. In 1991 imports of second-hand clothing become legal and within a decade every single one those manufactures goes out of business and over 10,000 jobs are lost. 

Overall, there are estimates that used-clothing imports are estimated to be responsible for roughly 40% of the decline in apparel production and roughly 50% of the decline in apparel employment in an average African country over the period 1981 to 2000. (Frazer, 21.) 

And do remember this little tidbit: clothing, garment and textile manufacturing has historically provided the first rung on the industrial ladder for developing countries. It is a relatively low-skill, but labor intensive industry that involves relatively low technology, capital and access to natural resources.  As a country begins to profit on this lowest rung of the manufacturing ladder, they accrue physical and human capital and can begin to move into more skill and capital-intensive industries.

And therefore,  log A = g ( U ) + β X + h ( bν ) + η.

Just kidding! In case you felt like you were in class, I thought I would see if you are still awake. (But seriously, that is an equation I came across while researching this very issue. Uh, I skipped that chapter. Numbers and letters smooshed together like that give me the heeby-jeebies.)

I am going to cut myself off here. I think you people are pretty smart and that I probably don't need to spell out other lasting consequences and implications of these facts. 

Does this make you rethink the way we "give" (or "drop" or "dump") product on Africa and other developing economies? 

Is our "giving" (in the specific area of non-durable goods) having the effect that we'd hope? 

Seriously, what do you think? Am I way off here? I want to be someone who is constantly learning and growing and changing. And given the information I have, this is where I find myself sitting. But if you think I am off my rocker, I'd seriously love to know that too. And tell me why. I like learning. Even if that means I feel dumb for a couple minutes. 

What if instead of "dropping" clothes and shoes in developing economies, we invested in businesses that are creating these products? Instead of "giving" a pair of shoes, we chose to pay a little more or wait a little longer for products that were made by the members of these communities? 

What if instead of giving our hand-me-downs (or new clothes/shoes for that matter), we gave self-sustaining economic opportunity? What if instead of giving "stuff" we gave our business or invested in businesses, which in turn provides sustainable salaries that send little kiddos to school and put mosquito nets over their beds... 

...and eventually sustainable (and profitable!) industries that give entire nations the ability to end the cycle of poverty?

Just a thought.

Seriously. I'd love to hear yours. If you are still there, that is. 

;)

Love, 

Liz

**Click here for some resources I referenced from people smarter than me**

a little update. all of our gifts from Ember are gone, but remember for the rest of the month if you use our promo code ("ssekobday") the lovely folks at Ember Arts will give you 10% off any purchase. ember beads go great with ssekos. 

love you all.

and we've got 9 more days of birthday month left. 

so i am off to eat some more cupcakes. you are going to have to roll me out of July into August. 

seriously. 

please give me a short moment...

to act like the thirteen year old liz. the one that believes that there are "things" that will make you happy. that there are material things that are so wonderful and beautiful and made just for you that if only you could have just that one thing your whole already rosy life (or terrible life, say, if a certain boy didn't pay me any attention or my braces just got tightened) would suddenly become rosier. 

whew. ok. i just needed to let that squeak out of me. 

i wish more than anything i was introducing you to the Sseko-mobile. the beautiful, magical, perfect Sseko-mobile that will carry Ben and I across the country while we sell sandals and tell our story and the stories our beautiful friends in Uganda. 

the sad news is. i can't. this is not our Sseko-mobile. only in my dreams. (but OHDEARGOLLY isn't it wonderful?)

the happy news is the part about Ben and I driving across the country to meet you and share stories and sell sandals? that part is true.

no kidding. 

and I can't wait to tell you more about it. but for now, take a peak at the road companion of my wildest dreams. 

our hearts hurt for rachel. if any of you feel compelled to send words of condolance, we will make sure they get to rachel when she returns to work. 

love, 

the sseko team 

the Sseko family is unharmed, but a little shaken up. more than anything we are mourning the loss of 76 lives of both foreigners and locals. 

there were three bombs detonated by Somalian suicide bombers from Al-Shabab in two separate locations where hundreds of people where gathered to watch the World Cup game Sunday night. 

along with the loss of innocent lives, we are mourning the hatred, fear and ignorance that these bombings represent. we are experiencing just a glimpse of the violent division that has plagued Uganda in the past.

there is a time for mourning. and we are there now. but there is also a time for hope, forgiveness, reconciliation and grace. and that is where we are headed. we believe now, more than ever, that we can fight hate, not with hate, but with love. 

we believe that the end of violent acts of terrorism lies not in retaliation, but in education, enlightenment and reconciliation. 

more than ever, in times of such great uncertainty, we hope to provide consistency, safety and an environment of conversation and dialogue. our desire is to consistently speak with a voice that challenges the notions of "us" verses "them" and to fight hard for the belief that there is intrinsic beauty and value in the human soul, no matter how buried it may be. we will fight hard, not only for this truth to be made known to our women and the Sseko family, but to to our larger communities, both in the US and Uganda. we hope that our small presence in our small corner of the world will continue to reiterate that truth. 

if you are interested in learning more about the attacks, you can do so here. 

To receive this gift, with every sandal purchase, if join us on Facebook and leave us a Happy Birthday, Sseko! message, we'll include a lovely, long, multi-colored necklace from Ember Arts.

Did you get that?

• Buy sandals
• Join us on Facebook
• Leave us a Happy Birthday, Sseko! message on our wall

And a receive a pretty little something from Ember Arts! 

But wait! Before you start making up birthday sonnets for our Facebook wall, let me tell you a little something about the gifters, eh? 

Ember Arts is an incredible group founded not too far away from us in Uganda. Ember Arts works with women from the displaced Acholi tribe to make beautiful jewelry out of recycled paper.

James, the founder of Ember Arts, is a great friend from my first trip to Uganda. I remember meeting James only a month or two into my journey and chatting over hummus and pita bread about what it would look like if this thing we call "business" could be harnessed and used as powerful means to meeting social needs that have been traditionally met only by the non-profit sector. 

I was such a wee little baby (because now I am soooo mature, right?) I had just graduated from college and was still getting my feet under me in Uganda and James was such an inspiration. Because James wasn't just talking about how to change the world, he was doing it. 

I've met the women making this beautiful jewelry. I've held their babies and eaten their food and I've seen the change and growth that has happened since these women have started their business. Ember Arts is growing and homes are being built and children are going to school and big things are happening in this little corner of the world called the Acholi Quarters. 

So to celebrate our Birthday, James and the ladies at Ember Arts have so sweetly gifted us with some beautiful paper bead necklaces, that we'd like to pass on to you. 

And please, head over to their website and look at all their other goodies (and brand new designs!) because for the month of July, if you use the promo-code "ssekobday" you'll receive an additional 10% off any purchase. 

and July, it turns out, is our birthday month.

can you believe it? tomorrow marks our very first birthday.

it is hard to believe that a year ago, we were sitting in the living room with our whiteboard and smelly markers and notepads asking, "ok. are we really going to do this? like really, legitimately going to do this?" and well, the answer to that was, "yes. let's do the dang thing."

and here we are.

a year later.

a year later and three incredibly bright young women are in university, pursuing their degrees. oh, and in the meantime, Mercy is serving as the Minister of Women's Affairs for her 30,000 person university. and Rebecca? she scored an incredible internship with the World Vision to study and assist in grass roots community development and poverty alleviation.

a year later.

and 8 more incredible girls are making sandals and starting to hear back from their respective Universities on where they will go this fall and what they will be studying and are dreaming with even more clarity about how they will be the change makers in their country.

a year later.

and 4 incredible mamas are finally earning a fair wage that is sending their little ones to school and putting food in their mouths and shelter over those little noggins. 

a year later.

and two incredible young american women are on staff in Uganda, helping us grow this dream, learning about taking risks, sacrificing and living life to fullest. 

a year later.

and a very happy me is sitting across from my very incredible husband who is now, not only my life partner, but my full-time Sseko partner too. 

Oh, how a year flies. 

Happy Birthday, Sseko.

Thanks for dreaming with us friends. 

she is incredible. i mean, one of the more exceptional people you might ever meet.

i tell you this, not because sometimes i just like to tell you about my life (which i do) but to hopefully challenge and inspire you.

Alex up and moved to Denver, Colorado this summer to work with women who are trying to or recently have escaped the commercial sex industry. 

prostitution.

human trafficking.

sex slavery.

in Denver. in the good ol U.S. of A. 

sometimes she sends me excerpts from her journal, and my heart breaks for these women. these women all have a story. and some of these heartbreaking stories start at an age so early it makes my stomach turn.

stories of being literally sold (at age 5 and 8) to the motel owner so their mother could stay a few more nights. stories of desperation. stories of betrayal and of lost innocence. 

{eck. here comes the tears. every time i think about those little girls...}

i think sometimes when we hear about human trafficking and sex slavery our minds jump to India. or Thailand. (or for me, Uganda) or some faraway place where the faces are blurry and the ocean divides us from them.

but the faces of these victims? they probably look a little more like us than you think. and you've seen them. maybe in Walgreens. or the gas station. she might have been sitting on the curb, drinking a Mountain Dew. or talking on her cell phone. 

There are estimates that 100,000 people are being trafficked in the U.S. every day.

the average age? 

eleven.

did you hear me? eleven years old. 

please take a second a think about what you were doing when you were eleven.

my sister is working in a home that is helping to rehabilitate these women. a place where they can be safe. a place where they can heal and reclaim their bodies and their minds and the lives that were stolen from them. 

and i could drive to go visit her. right now. hop in the car.

because this is happening right. here. right. now.

i get so many emails from people wanting to know how to help abroad. feeling such a burden for the women of developing countries. and hello. i love that. that is my heart, my passion, my life. and if that opportunity arises for you GO. DO. and know that i will be the first to cheer you on and tell you to keep going when you ask yourself, "what was i thinking?!?"

but please. don't believe that you have to buy a $1,700 plane ticket to a foreign land to do this. some of you feel so stuck because you have jobs or children or a mortgage and you can't hop on a jet plane and go make a difference. but that thinking? that is a lie.

because what is breaking your heart for the women in Uganda or Ethiopia or India 

that is happening here, too.

darkness, loneliness, abuse, desperation. 

oh, sure. they manifest differently. in every culture and in every place, they take on a different face and voice. 

but.

please, please, please i beg you. look around you. really look into the darkest corners of your own community. and find them. give them a voice. advocate for them. and look into their eyes. listen to them. and touch their shoulder. give them a glimmer of hope. and opportunity. 

is it glamorous? not really.

you know what Alex does all day? she watches Ellen with them. and she sits on rocks by the river and talks to them. she asks them questions. she looks them in the eye. they laugh at funny looking dogs together. she drives them to the doctor's office or the grocery store. but with every rock they throw in the river and with every dog they laugh at together, she is telling them, "You are valuable. You are more than what someone will pay for your body. You are beautiful." 

and that? is transforming lives. 

please don't wait until you can go to Africa or India to make a difference in the life of a woman. 

that mortgage that is keeping you here? use it on a home that will be open and inviting, so that she has a safe place to have a cup of coffee. that car payment? make it on a car that will give her a lift to go pick up some milk.

those children you get to raise? raise them to see that you don't have to live in a third world country to make a difference. bring them into this story with you. and then, maybe someday when you take them abroad, they will see that we are all not so different after all. there is always need. there is not a place in the world that escapes darkness and greed and desperation. 

but if we are willing to look deep enough and fight hard enough, there is always a glimmer of hope in the spirit of even the most broken of humans.  

go. 

now. 

please?

for the good. 

and that is largely due to our rockstar summer HQ interns. this summer has been a crazy one, and these ladies are keeping the wheels moving smoothly behind the scenes. not to mention, they are a pretty fun duo. it has almost been a month of having these two on the team, so if they haven't been scared away yet, i think it is safe to say, they'll survive through the summer. 

Internet, please give a warm Sseko welcome to Jess and Kate. 

Here is a little snippet about them. But to get the full effect, you really should just come by and hang out with the HQ crowd.

Kate

My name is Kate O'Flaherty, and I am a 21 (almost 22!) year old native of Kansas City, Missouri.  In my free time, I enjoy watching good, live music, cooking, bargain shopping and exploring all the great places and things that Kansas City has to offer.  I love the movie Newsies, Gone With the Wind (the book) and tuberose flowers. I'm approaching my final year at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in pursuit of a degree in Social Welfare and Justice with a minor in Justice and Peace. The same interests that led me to my major are what led me to Sseko!  An aspect of my program that I love is the emphasis on actively participating in the surrounding community. I love learning, and I truly believe that one of the best ways to learn is through personal experience.  Although, I'm still indecisive about the direction of my future, I am excited for the opportunities that the internship at Sseko will provide.  Hopefully, it will help me in my journey of discovering what I want to do with my life.  I look forward to making the most of this summer, spending time helping to improve the futures of both myself and others.

Jess

My name is Jess and I have been studying at MSU in Springfield for 2 years majoring in Fashion Design. I have recently changed over to entrepreneurship where I can begin to do what I really want to do, start a business that helps others while benefitting the world. I love helping people, sewing, adventure, hair design and make-up design, mission work, volunteering my time, long conversations with amazing people, photography, coffee shops and anything that challenges me or makes me laugh. Liz and Ben are absolutely incredible people and to be able to get the opportunity to work with Sseko and help the amazing women of Uganda is truly a blessing.