“The Global Sisterhood has inspired us to do for other women in our community, and gives us the drive to give back through our nonprofits. The Global Sisterhood has enabled us to connect with other amazing women, to network with trailblazers in business and philanthropy, and give back to our community. We believe that partnering with The Global Sisterhood and Inspiring Lives will help us to reach more women in Tanzania.”
Kemilembe Kanani, Director
Mission
Karagwe Vijana Development and Poverty Alleviation (KVDPA) believes that if you empower women and support ladies you change the whole community. KVDPA is one of the many sponsored projects of The Global Sisterhood, Inc. Its main target is the most vulnerable women and youth in rural areas. In this community, local women are mainly the bread-winners in the family. They farm, collect firewood to sell, and provide food for the households’ consumption, and they are responsible for paying school fees and tuition fees for their children. Feasibly supporting the household without including women is not sustainable in averting poverty. They must be included, and this is where The Global Sisterhood has stepped up to help. KVDPA with the support of The Global Sisterhood, Inc., empowers women by promoting self-employment as well as providing vocational training aid in the rural area of Karagwe through women’s and youth groups.
Website
N/A
Social Media
Facebook: Kvdpa Karagwe
Instagram: Kvdpa_Karagwe
The Global Sisterhood Charity Partnership Story
This collaboration began over seven years ago when Dr. Shellie interviewed Kemi for Empowering Women Radio and her international bestselling book trilogy Common Threads. She also at that time interviewed Ruby Dawn Surgest a fashion designer from Pittsburgh and a beautiful connection was formed between the sewing budding entrepreneurs in Tanzania and the Pittsburgh fashion fair trade retail store Ujamma Collective. Soon thereafter Ruby Dawn, a member of The Global Sisterhood went to visit the ladies in Tanzania and taught them sewing skills. Dr. Shellie wore a design from Tanzania on stage and Jas Booth from Final Salute modeled designs at The Global Gala and Mastermind fashion show, showing The Global Sisterhood supporters the amazing designs. We did a beautiful fashion editorial – titled “African Queen” — in Inspiring Lives Magazine featuring African fashion model Josy Nkussi as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuffHvMmY-Q
When we received our first foundation grant, we were able to continue to support the women and children of Tanzania who have created an entrepreneurship program. We have been able to send sewing machines, computers, and our Global Ambassador to help support the growth of the women’s businesses as they create school uniforms, reusable sanitary napkins, and a clothing line that is sold near our headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA as well as other places around the world. It is through education, entrepreneurial training, resources, and networking that we are able to help these women support not only themselves, but their families and their communities.
With the foundation support we received, The Global Sisterhood has continued to support the women and children of Tanzania who have created a Global Sisterhood Entrepreneurship Center. We have been able to send sewing machines, computers, and our Global Ambassador to help support the growth of the women’s businesses as they create school uniforms, reusable sanitary napkins, and a clothing line that is sold near our headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA as well as other places around the world. It is through education, entrepreneurial training, resources, and networking that we help these women support not only themselves, but their families and their communities.
The top three goals that will be met from the foundation grant for KVDPA that The Global Sisterhood received were:
- Helping the women entrepreneurs in Africa who are designing, making, and tailoring school uniforms, bags, men’s shirts, and aprons to be sold around the world.
- Supporting the creation of reusable cotton pads, and a bag, and hand sanitizers. These kits will ensure that no girl will miss school or suffer embarrassment or shame because of her menstrual cycle. These pads will be distributed in Tanzania’s rural and urban areas to the girls at schools.
- Empowering women to participate fully in self-employment for improvement of small-scale income generating activities in their community and abroad in the states; therefore, helping the families and global community … in effect changing the world through The Global Sisterhood!
During the Covid-19 Global Pandemic, the funding from the Global Sisterhood supported the creation of over 1,000 masks and clean water for sanitary hand washing in the village in Tanzania. The masks were made at the Global Sisterhood Entrepreneur Center by the women seamstresses on the sewing machines that were donated through Daughters of Deborah and the Global Sisterhood. We will continue to support and uplift our amazing Global Sisters in Africa!