Sole Sister

It goes without saying that attending college these days is pretty much a requirement if you plan on climbing the corporate ladder. It wasn’t always like this, though. Neither of my parents went to college after high school, but they climbed just fine; fast forward to now: getting a corporate job (or any job for that matter) is next to impossible without a Bachelor’s degree…even that isn’t enough sometimes. Could you imagine if college wasn’t even an option? (And I’m not talking about financial struggles…trust me, I’ll be paying back my student loans for quite some time). I’m talking about being a woman, and being denied any higher education other than high school simply because there is a lack of economical opportunity, and in a male dominated society, women are not afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that there is a huge problem in Uganda preventing women from attending any higher education after secondary school. “This means that they are forced to move home to their poverty stricken villages, or even worse – the commercial sex industry.”

Thankfully, there are ethical fashion companies that are doing all they can to prevent the worst from happening to these women. “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.” Their Story and Mission are so inspiring, and their results are even more reassuring that change is possible.

How can you help these women achieve their goals? Well, you start by selecting a black or brown sole, then you simply move on to your favorite colored ribbon (easy peasy!). The rest is up to your imagination; you can tie the ribbon in a number of ways, ensuring that you can achieve a new look with every wear. I am excited to show you how I styled my Sseko sandals, and even more excited to spread the word in hopes of sending more beautiful, talented women on to college. Dream, and you can achieve. xo

Dress, Forever 21 | Sunglasses | Necklace, c/o Moose & Nigel (Discount code PolkaDots10 for 10% off) | Purse, Forever 21 | Sandals, c/o Sseko Designs

Photography by: Leanna Annunziato Photography | Portraits by Leanna | Facebook | Instagram