However, I have found that I whole heartily support this 'not-just-for-profit' company. Sseko (pronounced say-ko), like TOMS, is a socially conscience shoe company. Apparently, in Uganda the school system is designed for a nine month break in between secondary schooling and university for students to raise tuition. In a male-dominated and impoverished society women have a hard time finding a job to fund their education. Sseko fills this niche. They provide 9-month jobs for women in between secondary school and university, though even women currently in and graduated from university can find amazing positions within Sseko. Whatever the women put toward their college education out of their salary is matched by Sseko at the end of the 9-month period.
I also think the sandals themselves are genius. It's just a leather base with trade-able ties but the ways you could tie your sandals are endless. Behold:
In their own words: "We here at Sseko are all extremely passionate about using a traditional for-profit business model to build sustainable incomes, job creation, education and professional opportunities. Business and consumerism are arguably the most powerful forces in our world today. Every dollar you spend is a vote for the way our world will do business and see our "stuff." We are excited to be a part of a growing movement the uses "patient capital" to combine philanthropy and traditional business models to change the world."
That's a neat little company and I completely agree with your final quote. A buddy of mine audits non-profits and told me that employee moral at established non-profits is lower than for-profit companies because incentives aren't properly aligned. If you can take a non-profit idea and add a for-profit business model it will ultimately be more successful in both the amount of money they make and the good they accomplish. Thanks for sharing Whitney.
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