Alice’s Journey of Innovation and Hope

At just 18 years old, Alice became a mother and found herself facing challenges that seemed overwhelming. In March 2024, she joined the tailoring program at Bwindi Vocational School with one dream in mind: to learn a skill that would allow her to provide for herself and her child. When she first arrived, Alice was quiet, with very few resources and little hope for the future.

Her biggest hurdle was that she could not afford extra materials to practice tailoring. Yet instead of giving up, Alice showed remarkable resilience and creativity. She began gathering leftover fabric scraps discarded by other students and collected old, worn-out clothes from the community. With patience and determination, she patched and redesigned these pieces into new clothing. What others saw as waste, Alice transformed into unique and useful products. Along the way, she discovered the art of recycling and sustainable fashion.

By August, Alice had completed a small collection of children’s dresses, blouses, and skirts. She proudly displayed her work to parents and neighbors at the school and managed to sell several pieces. From this effort, she earned 690,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately $190 USD) in personal income. For Alice, this was more than money; it was proof that her skills could create a future of independence.

She has already saved her earnings and plans to use them as startup capital to open a small tailoring shop in her trading center in Buhoma once she graduates later this year. Alice’s story is one of hope and innovation, showing how determination and support can open doors for young mothers longing for a brighter tomorrow.