Dear friends!
If you have just arrived here, I will take you through the campaign where you will see the difference your contribution will make to the lives of many young Africans. To start with, please click on the video above.
SoFEA's website is currently under construction, but will hopefully be ready soon ;)
But please email us at info.sofea@gmail.com and make sure to check out our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sofea-School-of-Fashion-East-Africa/781608578548252
- WHY SoFEA CAMPAIGN IS IMPORTANT
As a young student at the university, my dreams were silenced, because fashion was never perceived as a
career of choice for any reasonable person, nor was/is part of higher level curriculum. As a result, I ended up majoring in Economics. This campaign holds the center of my
long term dreams. My dream is to touch and give an opportunities to upcoming young African designers, particularly those, who like me, were denied that opportunity at a
young age. I am excited to extend my hands through education in fashion design
and concepts to students, and those looking for a career change.
- FASHION AS A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD
By your contribution –
no matter how small it is – you will be giving a chance to thousands of young Africans whose dreams
were silenced and still being silenced to explore what the Fashion industry is
all about. You are giving a chance for people to learn, to be
artistic, creative, while providing livelihood to their families. And if you are like me and many others, I hope by
reading this you will find it in you to join and contribute to our campaign.
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- THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING SoFEA NEEDS
To establish SoFEA, I
will need at least $60,000 as start up funds. These will go towards
establishment of the school such as: getting supplies (sewing
machines, books, tables, chairs,fashion kits to students, pattern and designing softwares, computers, etc),
consulting fees for the first few months to help with marketing and branding,
salaries for the first 12 months.
Should you be willing
to go down this road with me, you will receive regular updates, SoFEA Tshirts and other great perks such as a trip to a safari in Ngorongoro Crater, or the great Serengeti or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The good thing about a Fashion School, I can start small and build on from there. So incase the
campaign does not reach its entire goal, I will still be able to make use
whatever has been contributed.
- THIS IS WHAT YOUR MONEY WILL DO
Imagine a world where
those less fortunate are given an opportunity to explore their dreams and make
an impact in their communities? The impact can be profound! The time where fashion design was viewed to
be an inferior career which involved
mainly sewing, is now over. SoFEA will not only be the state of art
school of fashion in the region, but will also ensure that African fashion features in the global arena at an equal level playing field.
At a later stage, SoFEA
envisions teaming up with international players where students can find
placement, build skills and provide sustainable livelihoods to their families and communities.
Risks & Challenges....CAN'T AVOID THEM
There is no project
without risks and challenges. Having said that, some
risks that I foresee is East Africans not taking fashion as a serious career.
However, with the growing economies and middle class coming up, more and more
people are looking into venturing beyond the conventional route of studies. There is great
potential and genuine interest in fashion in East Africa today, evidenced by
the frequent occurrence of creative fashion events. SoFEA will tap into this
market by giving the community what they don’t have – a place to academically and
practically enrich while building skills and realizing their potential. And most importantly, SoFEA will create jobs through skill building and will be able to compete not just within the region, but internationally as well.
- SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES
Given the background
of fashion perception in the region, my plan is to intensively market the
school and what it offers. I plan to tap into the micro initiatives already in
place in East Africa and use other regional and international expertise to
augment what we lack.
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SPREAD SoFEA to the WORLD!
I want to thank you in
advance for reading and supporting my campaign and spreading the word out. Kindly
use the indiegogo share tools to spread the word and contribute :).
God bless