Simonetta Lein and The Wishwall Foundation have joined hands with local partners in Uganda to launch the SheTailors Project, an initiative designed to give women in Oyam District the skills and resources to rebuild their lives through tailoring, entrepreneurship, and community resilience.
In the quiet but resilient communities of Northern Uganda, a new initiative is unfolding—one that blends skill, resilience, and hope. With support from philanthropist Simonetta Lein and The Wishwall Foundation, the SheTailors Project has been launched in partnership with the Network Girl Tech Initiative Uganda.
At its heart, the programme seeks to provide 200 women—among them refugees, teenage mothers, and survivors of violence—with more than just training. Over six months, participants will acquire practical skills in tailoring, from creating clothing and handbags to crafting shoes, alongside essential lessons in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and marketing.
For many here, tailoring is not simply a profession. It represents dignity, a means to support a family, and a way of re-entering society with renewed confidence. By pairing technical training with mentorship and business guidance, SheTailors aims to open pathways out of poverty and dependency, replacing them with opportunities for independence and resilience.
The initiative does not conclude with the final stitch. In its seventh month, women will present their work in a public exhibition and competition, showcasing designs that tell stories of survival and ambition. This gathering will connect participants with local and regional markets, giving their skills visibility beyond the training hall. Awards for outstanding talent are planned, offering further encouragement to those determined to carve out new livelihoods.
Transparency remains central to the effort. Progress will be shared weekly through social media and the Wishwall Foundation’s platforms, allowing supporters worldwide to follow the journey as it unfolds.
For Vivian Nantambi, Executive Director of the Network Girl Tech Initiative Uganda, the project carries profound meaning. “The SheTailors Project is about restoring hope and creating opportunities for some of the most marginalised women in Oyam District,” she explains. “With the support of Simonetta Lein and The Wishwall Foundation, we are not just teaching skills—we are building futures and strengthening communities.”
In a country where women often shoulder the weight of survival, this partnership represents a deliberate act of change. It is an investment in voices too often unheard and talents too often unseen. And in the months to come, as fabrics are cut and patterns sewn, the women of Oyam may find not only new skills but also a renewed sense of agency—threads of change that can alter the fabric of their lives.