Here are  Selina, Maria and Rachel– since 2007, these 3 incredible women with very few resources other than sewing machines donated from the UK, they have trained over 1600 women in Chilomoni Township, Malawi. These dedicated women lead classes in Informal Tailoring. The three-month course is taught in Chichewa so that it’s accessible to women who have not been able to attend school. They also teach a one-year diploma course which not only passes on sewing skills but helps to build literacy and prepares women for the world of work.

We’d also like to introduce the Manager of CoG Malawi, Mary Kamwendo. You’ll read more about Mary in our Mother’s Day blog. For now it’s suffice to say that CoG would not exist without this incredible, strong woman. She has championed the rights of women and girls throughout her life; Mary truly understands the impact of providing education and training to women in order to achieve long lasting positive change in a development area.

And lastly, please meet our team of tailors. Each are educated via the tailoring training courses; here are the incredible women who sew your old inner tubes and coffee sack into top quality eco-gifts. We’re inspired by the way the tailors work to support each other within the team. They understand that the success of one means the success of all, they coach and mentor one another. They provide a shoulder to cry on and a friend to laugh with. Each woman earns more than treble the minimum wage in Malawi. They have a pension scheme, paid holiday and access to subsidised childcare. They use their earnings to nurture and educate their children, making the Cycle of Good truly sustainable.

“The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children.”

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re giving our newsletter subscribers exclusive Early-Bird access to our brand new Coffee Crossover Bag. Fresh back from Malawi and made from 100% recycled materials, the bags are perfect for everyday essentials. The smaller size is great for a night out and the larger will accommodate an A5 notebook making it perfect for the office.

There are only 20 of these versatile coffee sack and inner tube bags in the UK. You can bag yourself one ahead of the full production run arriving back from Malawi