Meet Liz.

“I went to Uganda on somewhat of a whim when I graduated from college. I studied journalism and wanted to learn more about the issues facing women and girls living in poverty and in conflict and post conflict zones. I went to learn. To understand. To be changed. To break. And to grow. I didn’t set out because I had something to give. I set out because I believed there was so much more I had left to learn. So I went. And while I was there… I changed. I broke. And I began to learn.

During my time traveling across Uganda, I came across an incredible community. And in that community there was a remarkable group of young women. They were mostly my age. They became friends. The commitment of these young women blew me away. They were not only committed to learning their subjects, but also so committed to learning how to love well. To love each other. To reconcile their lives. To lead their communities and countries.

When I came to learn that many of these bright, passionate young women were graduating from secondary school and struggling to find work during their gap year to finance their university education, Sseko was born.”

Their Mission & Impact: Sseko Designs uses fashion to provide employment and scholarship opportunities to women pursuing their dreams and overcoming poverty. To date, they’ve enabled 47 to continue on to University. They provide employment (along with access to a comprehensive social impact program) to a team of 50 women in Uganda. And they do it all through a financially self-sustaining model.

My highlights from Liz speaking at YELLOW:

• Perhaps passion is overrated these days. An interesting problem goes a long way.
• The NECESSITY of an open hand vs. closed hand approach to life. You can’t enter any situation with a tight grip on the outcome – that’s a recipe for failure.
• Perfect is the enemy of good. Planning vs. DOING
• The Myth of Preparation – Steep curve in beginning, but quality then plateaus over time. In other words, get out there and DO IT.
• What is truer than truth? A story.

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

-Jimmy Johnson

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