About

 Mend is a social enterprise geared toward facilitating financial independence and development for vulnerable women in northern Uganda. These women produce high quality bags designed to seam a personal connection between products, their makers and consumers.


The 17 seamstresses supported by Mend are former abductees, who were forced to become child soldiers or wives to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commanders. These women were lucky enough to escape, often with children of their own, but after returning home, were ostracized due to their former affiliation with the rebels.  Taken captive at a tender age, many lack a basic education and upon their escape from the LRA, were taken to rehabilitation centers, where they received three months of counseling and basic training in tailoring. With a skill for which an already flooded market exists, many were left without the means to support themselves and their children through a career as a seamstress. 


Mend is built to have both sustainable social and financial impact. By providing the seamstresses of Mend more marketable and economically beneficial outlets for their skills, Mend has helped reduce poverty, truly improving the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable in northern Uganda. With each new bag, the seamstresses improve in skill, versatility and confidence.



Through education and counseling, Mend emphasizes building a life for the seamstresses outside of work as well.  They regularly participate in lessons in literacy, numeracy, and budgeting, and are assisted in their development of sustainable income-generating activities for the future. The seamstresses have opened individual savings accounts, which allow them to receive necessary medical care, as well as pay school related fees for their children. Attending training sessions held in conjunction with partner NGOs gives them an understanding of topics such as safe health practices, family planning and coping with psychosocial trauma. Mend also employs a local, professional, full-time Social Worker, experienced in post-conflict trauma, who works to provide psycho-social support to the seamstresses and their families.

Every handbag made at Mend has a story.  Each product carries the name of the seamstress who made it.  This seamstress’ name links to her online profile, providing a window into her life.  Through video bios and photos she will share how she is “on the Mend” because of a simple purchase.