Our Purpose
Empowering women is at the heart of what we do.
Women in South Africa face a wide range of social issues such as endemic domestic violence, rampant child abuse, an HIV/AIDS epidemic, rising unemployment, inequality and poverty. Education systems are failing, and the country has an unemployment rate of 28% and youth unemployment rate of 59% (under age 24) as of 3rd quarter 2022 published by STATISTA.
The country is in an economic crisis, crippled by a legacy of corruption, and these social issues affect women, their families, and the broader community.
We strongly believe that by enabling women to get an education, learn new skills, and enter the workforce or start their own business - essentially gain financial independence - they will be empowered. This will not only impact them directly, but also their families, their communities and ultimately the country as a whole.
“If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.”
Melinda Gates, Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.
We are an impact-driven organisation and believe in empowerment and inclusion through employment, financial independence and entrepreneurship.
Colours of a Kind Non Profit Company (NPC) South Africa was founded and officially registered in June 2019 by Christiane Wacker (registration number 2019/308608/08). The objective of the organisation is to uplift and empower women from disadvantaged communities in and around Cape Town, South Africa, through training and job opportunities.
From 2019 to 2021, Learn Make Sew, our first initiative, provided free training in basic sewing skills as well as personal development, to equip women with the skills they need to enter the workforce. The programme ran five times over the course of three years and benefited close to 100 women from some of Cape Town’s toughest communities.
From 2022 to 2023, our second initiative, the Colours of a Kind Accelerator, a year-long SETA accredited programme, ran twice. It was facilitated by the Fashion Institute of Garment Technology by the Cape Town College of Fashion Design (CTCFD). We are very proud that 24 out of our 26 students successfully graduated from the programme. Five of them even completed their specialised second year of study, fully sponsored by CoaK.
With the establishment of our own Cut Make Trim (CMT) studio in February 2023, we are providing more opportunity to our graduates through on-the-job training and internships. Working with businesses and leaders in the fashion industry our goals remain focused on empowerment and inclusion for the ladies in our programmes through employment, financial independence and successful entrepreneurship.
Moreover, we are proud to address six of the 17 UN sustainable development goals with our activities:
no poverty, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and responsible consumption and production.
What’s in a name?
We chose the words Colours and Kind intentionally.
We’re inspired by the bold, vibrant palette that captures an authentic African energy and spirit. We have been established to promote kindness: we’re supporting ethical businesses and sustainable craft, and creating a programme that uplifts women.
“One of a kind” means unique. “Two of a kind” means similar or the same. We are passionate about the things that make everyone special and the qualities that we have in common, that connect us in Cape town and across continents.
We are all in this together.