Women and girls in Africa are faced with a unique challenge - they need money to support themselves, but jobs, especially for women, are scarce. Approached with opportunities to "nanny" in Europe or the Middle East, they leap at the chance. But on arrival, they find themselves forced into the sex trade. Having entered the country illegally, they fear going to authorities and are trapped.
According to The International Labour Organization as of 2016, 25 million people toiled in forced labor including forced sexual exploitation and trafficking with another 15 million people in forced marriage. By region, Africa ranked highest of all, with 37% of all cases of trafficking internationally. Of these victims, women and girls accounted for more than 99% of all victims of forced sexual exploitation. See ILO.org & UN.org for more information.
We're a woman-led non-profit that provides START-UP STIPENDS & BUSINESS MENTORING to survivors of trafficking. Women who survive Trafficking have dreams to support themselves and their families. By opening their own shops they can provide needed and wanted services in their own communities, but they need a little help to get them going. This is where Becoming a Cupcake steps in.
We know from books like Half The Sky and The Moment of Lift, that empowered women invest in and lift their families and communities. Guided by these principles, we employ local knowledge and contacts, paired with business and start-up experience, we are able to help jump-start survivors' businesses.
We're currently sponsoring & mentoring these wonderful women's business dreams:
Wedding & gown design house in Kampala, Uganda.
Wedding & bridesmaid dress shop in Kampala, Uganda.
Hair & makeup artists & fashion models in Kampala, Uganda.
YOU are our biggest ally in EMPOWERING SURVIVORS! We focus our efforts at the source—in Uganda—so your contributions can be stretched waaaaaaayyyyyy further than in more developed regions. How can you help?
Donate your Wedding Dress to Becoming a Cupcake - if we think it fits the Ugandan aesthetic we'll bring it to Uganda for rental at Glorie's Wedding Boutique, if not, we'll rent or re-sell the dress here in the US and reinvest the proceeds to combat trafficking. Click "Donate Your Dress" below to contact us for more information on donating your dress!
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