We graduated two ecoFashion Entrepreneurs | @ecoDesigns Pioneer Graduation Ceremony.
The brief Story of how we started @ecoDesigns
Over 3 years ago, @mr-greens and @fonirene via the Waste Business Hub project initiated the textile recycling and fashion designing hub, known as @ecodesigns.
@ecoDesigns was created to educate, empower and engage women and girls to tackle textile waste pollution and promote entrepreneurship among women and girls; hence reduce female unemployment and improve the state of the environment in the North West Region of Cameroon.
In 2017, @mr-greens put up posters around the community to recruit women/girls into ecoDesigns.
A few weeks later, Sylvia Ajih and a host of girls joined the ecoDesigns family.
Initially we had just one sewing machine when we created ecoDesigns but our Green Elders, Papa J and Mama J bought us one machine and with just two machines, we could give young girls hope for a better future.
As the girls kept increasing, our support from the local and international community kept increasing too. One of our biggest support of the ecoDesigns hub came in last year when we launched a fundraising to purchase machines on @fundition.
We received a lot of support from @fundition, @adollaraday @pennsif @indigoocean @ecotrain and a lot of steemians who believed in our dream and this is how we were able to acquire over 9 new machines including an Overlocker Machine.
@chrisaiki and @solarcoach also supported us with some solar lanterns.
Appreciation
If we were able to graduate two trainees yesterday, it's thanks to the support we have received from the local and international community and most especially the #steem family.
We really want to thank every steemian and every person who has supported us in any way to be who we are today. Thanks for standing by us and keep supporting us.
The @ecoDesigns Pioneer Graduation
Sunday 7th of July 2019 will forever remain in the history of ecoDesigns because we graduated two of our pioneer trainees, Mbom Franca and Ajih Sylvia.
The event that started with prayers was attended by more than 150 people who came to celebrate with us.
The event started with prayers and then a word of welcome from @thegreens Founder/Executive Director, @mr-greens who took 05 minutes to present @thegreens to the august guests.
This was followed by a presentation of some of the graduates textile recycled garments.
The graduates presentations of their textile upcycled garments was followed by a brief parade of some of their works
Then we had a presentation of @ecodesigns by @fonirene, Director of @ecoDesigns who also presented the trainees she had been training who were to be proclaimed laureates.
Irene also introduced the other Directors of training of ecodesigns.
She ended her word by calling on the laureates to follow their hearts and passion and lead the change they seek.
Then the laureates presented some gifts of appreciation comprising of two chickens, palm wine, a bottle of wine and a surprise gift to their Directors of training of ecodesigns and members of @thegreens
Then we had the graduation proclammation that was led by @mr-greens and then the Directors of training of ecoDesigns.
Despite the heavy rains, we still continued with a word from the family representatives of the laureates.
Then the laureates cut their special cake and popped their champagne.
Both laureates upon cutting of the cake and popping of the champagne expressed their sincere gratitude to their trainers and @thegreens for giving them the opportunity to be ambassadors of change in their communities.
We will share a video of the graduates speech and their dreams and aspirations in the days ahead.
Then we had time to take enough pictures.
The 1SBD Emergency Fundraising to Purchase a Generator for ecoDesigns
@ecodesigns really wants to thank you all for supporting our Emergency fundraising to purchase a generator for our hub so that we can continue to effectively train our more than 13 women and girls in textile recycling and fashion designing.
I think our graduation report has inspired you and given you more reason why we need your support.
Here is a brief report of the donations we have received so far and from the sweetest part of our hearts, we really want to say Thank You
- @likedeeler – 27.505SBD
- @misslasvegas – 4.605SBD
- @wildhomesteading – 2SBD
- @nateonsteemit – 2SBD
- @artemislives – 10 Steem
- @senorcoconut – 15SBD
- @metametheus – 1SBD
- @riverflows – 5SBD
- @naturalmedicine – 5SBD
- @indigoocean – 3SBD
- @trucklife-family – 10Steem
- @canadian-coconut – awesome upvotes
- @elamental – 10Steem
- @donkeypong - 56.252SBD
- @needleworkmonday – 10SBD
- @crosheille – 5SBD
- @hermansol – 5Steem
- @lukestokes - 75SBD
- @porters – 10SBD
- @torico – 1SBD
- @impactn - 10Steem
Total donations received: 222.362 SBD and 45 Steem + some awesome upvotes from @canadian-coconut, @donkeypong and @smarkmarket.
Thanks very much for your generosity and we will be glad if we continue to spread the word about our emergency fundraising. Our fundraising has already achieved more than 50% its goal and we believe we can realize the remaining goal this week.
You can learn more about our fundraising here: https://steemit.com/fundraising/@ecodesigns/1sbd-emergency-fundraising-to-purchase-a-generator-for-ecodesigns
Lots of love from all of us at @ecodesigns
#Call2Action
Every week, the hub upcycles 50 pounds of textile waste in a bid to curb textile waste pollution and Climate Change.
Support @ecodesigns
By supporting @ecodesigns, you are contributing to reducing female youth unemployment and poverty, promoting women empowerment and entrepreneurship, improving the health and wellbeing of orphans, prisoners and poor people who can’t afford quality garments, as well as contributing to fight textile waste pollution and climate change. You can support @ecodesigns by;
1. Delegating @ecodesigns Steem power. We appreciate any amount of SP Delegation.
2. Upvoting @ecodesigns Posts
3. Donating @ecodesigns Steem or Steem Dollars
4. Follow, Comment and Resteem @ecodesigns posts
5. Organizing a charity fundraising or Sewing Machines drive for @ecodesigns
@ecodesigns is a member of:
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Wow - such brilliant pics!! I'm assuming Franca and Sylvia made their own graduation dresses?? The colour and style and sheer exuberance is so wonderfully African! Gorgeous.
I just sent @ecodesigns another 10 steem and hope the target for the generator can be reached this week.
Leading the curation trail for both @ecotrain & @eco-alex.
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@ecoTrain
They made their dresses by themselves as well as made the dresses of family members who attended the event. Thanks very much for your support @artemislives