Stitches of Hope Foundation
Hi!
I’m Kiki Okewale
Founder, Stitches of Hope Foundation
WELCOME
About Me
Hello, I am Kiki Okewale, Philanthropist & Fashion Designer.
The dream behind Stitches of Hope came from a place deep inside me. A dream I know I cannot achieve all alone but I need a team, a board, influential and steward-minded people who can support this dream to higher level.
“A stitch in time saves nine.” they say
Basic information
Personal Details
Instagram: @HopeByKikiOkewale
Location: 2 Osho Street Opebi, Ikeja Lagos
Birthday: July
Email: Kikiokewale@gmail.com
Stitches of Hope Foundation
How IT ALL STARTED…
Have you ever wondered why…
We spend so much time worrying and chasing after the next big thing, the next goal, the next desire, how we look, how we dress, our positions in the society that we forget to reflect back and give gratitude on how far we’ve come?
That is exactly what happened to me on this fateful day.
We had just gotten to the Makoko community, and we are about to continue the visit on foot to meet up with a canoe to our destination.
I had a lot of anxieties, but I was carefully making them up under the warm smiles, and all my effort to get my friend to relieve my fears and anxieties were met with a cold feedback.
“You will survive it” was the facial expression I kept receiving back.
We were moving towards an alley not wide enough to take 2 people without shoulders bumping when I realized the road down the alley was also muddy.
It had rained in the morning, bringing about a muddy road. Both of which increased my worry even more.
My friend Lionhead and our hosts Emmanuel and Benjamin alighted from the car to start walking ahead when I signaled to Lionhead to come closer.
“I want to change my pair of white sneakers to another darker shade.” I said.
The expression on his face carried a stare that communicated a million and one thing at the same time. I coud tell he was holding back from saying something.
“Answer me now!” I prodded him a tone of urgency.
“Why?” He fired back, calmly.“I don’t want my sneakers to get stained or muddied by the dirty ground”“It doesn’t matter.” He said and made to walk away.I held him back by the hand, “of course it does…”“Really?” he shot back at me.“ Yes now!”“Kiki, it’s inconsequential. Changing sneakers because of muddy water should be the least of your worries”. He whispered gently.
He turned and walked away to join Emmanuel and the others as they waited for me to alight from the car.At that point, I was a tiny bit angry. How dare he with his big nose say my concern was “INCONSEQUENTIAL”? I mumbled under my breath as I fumed.
That mini episode would turn out to foreshadow my entire experience on that special day as I came to learn later that we truly worry about INCONSEQUENTIAL things, when there are much more important things to life.
And even more, we take “CHOICE” for granted, when being able (or in a position) to choose in the first place, is itself a luxury not accorded so many others.
Not many others were gifted or opportuned to make some important life choices.It was the day I launched my foundation:
Stitches of Hope Foundation.
The Makoko SCHOOL PROJECT
Kiki Okewale at the launch of Stitches of Hope Foundationwith the Makoko Dream students
It was a most fulfilling experience for me.
I had hoped to touch some children’s lives with Stitches of Hope, but I was the one that ended up being touched in more ways than one.
I realized that while attempting to help stitch some people’s circumstances, I needed and was getting some stitching myself.
In fact, I realized we all need some stitching, whatever our situation or position in life.
The canoe rides was the chief of my anxieties, but ofcourse when duty call and the act of stewardship is knocking, it filled me with all the motivation I needed.
Kiki on the canoe and for once, sitting rather well-behaved.
And with the suggestion from our Media & Facebook community, we got some suggestions that recommeded recommended Makoko and what a certain Emmanuel Agunze was doing in the waterside community with the #Makokodream project.
So we made contact; ascertained the needs and it was decided.
A typical way of life in Makoko
And after some preparation, we chose a date to visit and donate our widow’s mite consisting of 40 school uniforms for both boys and girls of the Makoko Dream School, in addition to some textbooks and notebooks.
Students of the Makoko Dream School excitied & filled with joy on our visit.
Imbibing Empathy
By exploring the world beyond what we know, we will have a better and greater understanding of other people, and why they are the way they are, as we make new discoveries on a human level.
This new discoveries continue to foster deeper connections borne out of deeper understanding. And we become better humans and more humane.
It might just inspire in you an idea to make a contribution or intervention that will bring a positive change to others or to mankind in general.
And this first visit to Makoko Dream School led to more outreach to touch more lives…
The Makoko Dream Student Journey
And this first visit to Makoko Dream School led to more outreach to touch more lives…
THE ENTREPRENEUR MENTORSHIP PROJECT:
THE FASHION SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT:
Fashion Scholarship for Women
Few weeks ago, Stitches of Hope Foundation embarked on a career scholarship for 15 women, so as to give them a career foundation in building their Fashion Dream.
Not only were they able to set out in their Fashion Design skills, we also gave out machine award to the team too.
Scholarship Student sponsored by Stitches of Hope Foundation
With deep thought, it dawned on me that,
“Stitches of Hope is aimed at providing timely interventions that will restore hope and spread happiness to as many people, so that they can look beyond their present challenges and see forward to a better tomorrow.”
The true act of stewardship.
We are but vessels in the hand our creator, and nothing gives more joy than touching other people’s lives positively.
Mr Popoola, one of the best Fashion Instructors at KIKI Fashion School training & impacting the Empowered women.
Each student empowered with a personal training machine to help them Bring their Fashion dream to life.
Nothing gives us more joy than seeing others succeed, because we believed in them.
The joy of stewardship overflows inside of me seeing our scholarship students succeeding and advancing their fashion career.
Presenting certificates to our women after graduation
PARTNERING WITH DIFFERENT INDUSTRY LEADERS
We not only partnered with Kiki Fashion School to provide fashion career skills to women, we also partnered with different Industry Leading Brands like; Shola Animashaun Photography and Digital Marketing Africa Agency
Shola Animashaun,M.D. SA Productions, training the scholarship students on the Importance of Branding & shooting contents with their gadgets
Josh Diamond,CEO. Digital Marketing Africa Agency, training the scholarship students on the Importance of Marketing & how to start attracting their first 10 – 100 clients to start creating financial wealth for themselves.
And we rounded the scholarship and empowerment program of this semester up by presenting machine to the start student.
With deep thought, it dawned on me that,
“Stitches of Hope is aimed at providing timely interventions that will restore hope and spread happiness to as many people, so that they can look beyond their present challenges and see forward to a better tomorrow.”
The true act of stewardship.
We are but vessels in the hand our creator, and nothing gives more joy than touching other people’s lives positively.
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Listen to What Beneficiaries are saying about Stitches Of Hope & Kiki Okewale Foundation:
AMANDA UZOMA
Student
“This is the best place to bring your fashion dream into a reality In Nigeria. Their method of teaching is top notch. The environment is very conducive to learn.
Teachers are steadily available to assist you during your training and afterwards. I learnt so much there including the business of fashion and tools needed to survive the fashion business/industry.”
FABAYO FUNMI FAITH
Fashion Designer
“First, I would like to thank the management of KIKI Fashion School. So far, it has been awesome. First impression they say last long and I must say, right from entry I was encouraged to put in more effort even as a benefactor.
Mrs Kiki gracing our entry into the fashion school with words so inspiring was of great help as I learnt a lot from that.
First day for me was amazing. I loved every bit of it. The teaching was great and our instructor is approachable. Once again, thanks to Kiki Fashion School.”
FAITH CHUKWU
Fashion Student
“I would like to say a very big thank you to Mrs Kiki Okewale for her warm welcome, and also to d organisers, to the media crew, and I will never fail to thank our School instructors, you guys are d best.
I learnt how to thread a multipurpose sewing machine, I learnt how to operate it, and most of it functions..God bless you all.”
references
Client Testimonials
INDUSTRY LEADERS
What They Say About Me
PHILIPPE JAN – Designist
“Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ull amco laboris. Ut enim ad minim veniam.”
ANNA STONE – Frog Design
“Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ull amco laboris. Ut enim ad minim veniam.”
MATT JONES – Ogilvy&Matt
“Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ull amco laboris.”
JOHN DOE – Leo Brunett
“Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ull amco laboris. Ut enim ad minim veniam. Ut enim ad minim veniam.”
let’s get in touch
For Partnership/Enquiries
You can connect with Stitches of Hope Foundation with any of the contact channels below:
Phone number
+2348138106197
Email Address
Kiki@kikiokewale.com
