Uganda: Ajura, Eco-Friendly Fashion and Empowerment

print with silk fabric.

Silk fabric with abstract design. 

Fostering women's empowerment and sustainable design through eco-friendly fashion in Uganda.

Project description

Ajura is fashion label that was founded in July 2019 in Uganda under a registered company Ajura Styles SMC Ltd. Our mission is to provide high-end ecofriendly fashion products to customers in different global markets to support and reduce the destruction of the environment at an affordable rate.

We also offer training to support to young women and girls in the area of eco friendly fashion and also in the area of garment cutting and construction. These skills support women's independence and success. Since opening, we have been able to hire two part time and one full time employees who earn a living by working with Ajura Styles SMC Ltd. 

The leaves we have been in position to identify to leave tannings on the fabric are few and hence this limits the patterns that we want to have on the different fabrics.

As we work to build our business and expand our reach, there are several areas for innovation including:

  • Website creation for the business
  • Marketing the finished eco fashion product/ partner fashion events that can showcase the Ajura Eco products
  • Funding to help recruit and train more individuals especially women who will help produce the eco print fabric and get paid for doing it for.

Project outcome

Students are invited to contribute their ideas and talents to this growing business venture. Priority will be given to projects that help build capacity through revenue generation, marketing and strategic communications.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About a semester (3-5 months)
Start time Anytime
Level of collaboration Individual student project
Benefits Academic Credit, Volunteer, Work Study
Who is eligible All undergraduate students

Core partners

Project mentor

Mara Huber

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning; Director, Experiential Learning Network

Phone: (716) 829-2834

Email: mbhuber@buffalo.edu

Have a question about this project? Mara Huber hosts drop-in office hours on Zoom every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. 

Global NGO Project

This project is for students interested in collaborating with a global Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Please be sure you identify your project as a Global NGO Project when you sign up to start the digital badge.

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Examine the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the history of the framework. Then select one SDG to focus on as you work through your project.
  2. Download and complete this PowerPoint template.