My name is Ashley Rowley from Grand Junction, CO. I have created this GoFundMe on behalf of my friend, Hakim Bukama from Uganda. (GoFundMe is not available in Uganda). These are his words:

"My name is Hakim Bukama, a free thinker and humanist. I go to school at Isaac Newton High School in Kadugala, Uganda. I completed my end of years from school and am going back to my home, Katumba Village, on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori. Where I live is a very impoverished area. My aim has always been improving the lives of those around me, and I have done this through organizing empowerment projects in my village.

After the COVID-19 pandemic and natural calamities in my village, many children were left homeless and orphaned. As for myself, I thought of what I can do to help make a difference in my village. I tried asking members of our village what we should do to help the kids on the streets without education or income. We decided to start up a tailoring project. I also love sewing, so that's why it seemed a proper project for me to start up to help my fellow kids on the streets of our village.

This project mainly aims to empower teenagers and women with vocational training and income-generating opportunities as well as to improve their self-esteem and confidence. This will aid in self-employment and self-reliance in the village where poverty remains a heavy burden over the necks of rural women and teenagers despite their hard work, creativity, intelligence, and forward-thinking attitudes. By learning how to sew, they can create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

We opened up in a small mud room with three sewing machines, two of which were donated by a generous friend and the other one from the community members. We got some sewing materials that included needles, cloth, oils, and sewing scissors. We started with three girls and later on welcomed two boys. We had a sewing teacher who was paid a monthly fee of $50, but we had limited funds to keep paying him. Luckily, after learning to sew, our first group of students continued to teach newcomers and pass their knowledge on for the benefit of the rest of the community, so now we pay nothing for training.

The members in my village loved the project and encouraged more of the orphan kids to come to the training center to get equipped with the skills as this helps them in the future. The number of youths wishing to be trained is constantly increasing. We are gladly happy that the total number of kids is now 20, but we are running low on supplies. With joint support from generous friends, we shall make this possible and get more sewing machines, materials, and develop our program structure.

The project strategy:

We will do 4 batches for 20 kids (5 kids in each batch). Thus a total of 20 to be trained in tailoring skills. 10 kids will be trained in tailoring in three months so that others can also be trained. After this time period, they will be able to sew and start up their own projects.

A call for action

Generous friends, we call out to you for your help in making a small donation to this cause. We are currently working with three sewing machines, which are inadequate for empowering the 10 kids we are serving at a time. Additionally, we lack power machines to maintain the kids' and women's productivity.

We request a small donation towards this fundraiser to purchase seven sewing machines, each costing $150, and one power sewing machine costing $250. Furthermore, we aim to purchase additional sewing supplies, including needles, tailoring clothing, stitches, scissors, tape measures, seam rippers, unpacked threads, ironing boards, and boxes which also cost $200.

Below is our budget breakdown:

1. Seven sewing machines = $1050

2. Sewing material supplies = $200

3. One power sewing machine = $250

Total = $1500

Let's join hands and make this earth a better place for fellow humans. Together we can make a difference."

All donations will be sent directly to Hakim via World Remit.