Our story
It began with a boy called Kato.
In 2019, Kato, one of the children we mentored at Faces Up Uganda, faced a year away from school. His parents cared deeply; they simply could not afford the fees. So he spent his days at our community centre instead, drawing and playing.
His drawings were good. Good enough, we thought, that someone might pay for them. Our first attempt was to print them on postcards. It was harder than it sounds and it very nearly did not work, but it worked.
What began with one child has, since 2019, supported over 120 children through primary and secondary school. The postcards became t-shirts, greeting cards, tote bags, purses, notebooks, artworks and prints, sold through this shop and co-branded with companies who wanted their merchandise to mean something. No pity, no appeals, no photographs of sad faces. Just work worth buying, and fees that get paid.
The process, end to end
- 01
Children attend art classes
At our community centre in one of Kampala's underserved neighbourhoods, children paint, express themselves and tell their own stories.
- 02
We write down their name
Each original is photographed and signed by the child. Ashemeza, who wants to be an artist, a flight attendant and a bank manager, gets her name on the artwork.
- 03
Turn the original into merch
Chosen artworks are digitally printed onto notebooks, recycled-denim totes, purses, tees and fridge magnets. All produced in Uganda, all tagged Made in Uganda.
- 04
It reaches you
Orders leave Kampala by DHL Express. Every product carries a QR code, so you can meet the child whose painting you are holding.
- 05
The fees get paid
70% of the price goes to the school fees fund for primary and secondary children. The other 30% is reinvested back into the work.
Follow your money to the end of the line
70% of the price you pay goes directly towards school fees for children from underserved communities, primary and secondary. The remaining 30% is reinvested back into the work. Buy something in March, and a child sits an exam in June because of it.
Shop the collection- School fees
- 70%
- Materials, production & programme
- 30%
- Children supported since 2019
- 120+
- Where it all started
- 2019