KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.

Last week I received this beautiful Organic Cotton Dress by One Mango Tree and it is perfect! The dress is made of 100% Organic Cotton Jersey and I love everything about it. The beautiful simple cut is super comfy and exactly how I would design a dress myself. The fabric feels light and soft on your skin and over the last week I have worn it out to party, to the park and the length makes it even wearable for biking. One Mango Tree is a truly family run business and works with artisans in Uganda. I love that each dress has a little tag, which shows you the name of the artisan, that made yours. We are so proud to work with One Mango Tree and Holstee truly supports their mission: economic empowerment to provide the foundation necessary for achieving peace and sustainable development! Meet the beautiful ladies from One Mango Tree and watch the video to learn more about their work! 

Holstee is proud to announce our most recent microloans on Kiva.org! We have recently lent to the ‘Safina Namugerwa Group’, located in Kayunga, Uganda as well as the ‘Fatuma Nakibuuka's Group’ from Lugazi, Uganda. For this round we have selected to lend to ‘lending groups’ rather than individuals. We were impressed with the concept of that embraces the ideals of a community to help their fellow entrepreneurs meet their payments, and grow their businesses. The idea of helping fellow entrepreneurs, reminds us of our friends at the Sandbox Network, a network of extraordinary entrepreneurs across the globe. As entrepreneurs ourselves, Mike and I realize how valuable it is to have a support network who offer encouragement and inspiration and we hope these lending groups offer the same level of motivation for each of the individuals within it. Safina Namugerwa Group: Here is some information on the ‘Safina Namugerwa Group’ from Kiva:

Namugerwa Safina is the leader of Bunawona group in Kayunga. She is a businesswoman with a business selling used clothes at daily markets in and around Kayunga and Jinja. She sells ladies gomesi (the official dress for women in Uganda), bitenge (a dress using a particular fabric) and other casual dresses plus children’s wear. She has been obtaining loans for eleven years and has been able to pay school fees for her children all this while as she boosts her clothing business with more capital. She needs a new loan to help with buying more clothes for sale as well as paying school fees for her children.

Fatuma Nakibuuka's Group: Here is some information on the ‘Fatuma Nakibuuka's Group’ from Kiva:

Nakibuuka Fatuma has been able to pay back her previous loan on time because she was able to put it to good use once she received it. She is a businesswoman with a tailoring business where she makes dresses, skirts, blouses as well as mending those that are already made. She is married with three children and is also caring for two relatives with full responsibility for their welfare. Fatuma’s weekly income has increased over time, though her business booms mostly during the festive seasons when everyone is in the mood for buying new clothes. She is also a farmer with plantations and cows that all bring in an income. She needs a loan to be able to buy more clothing materials for her tailoring business.

We will be sure to keep you posted with any updates to these entrepreneurs and with our microlending practices!