Overview

Akola Project is a jewelry brand that sources its products from Uganda, employing nearly 200 women in Jinja who are largely from rural communities. Each piece is handcrafted using local, high-quality materials, and the sale of every piece is tied to improving a woman’s life and her family’s situation. The company’s product works by providing dignified employment and living wages to its artisans, who create bold, layered jewelry that reflects strength and femininity. What sets Akola apart from competitors is its explicit social mission: a female-founded, female-led organization that integrates economic empowerment with local craftsmanship, backed by a scalable impact model and recognition from the National Retail Federation as shaping the future of retail. Akola’s goal is to empower women to transform their lives and their communities by building a female-empowered workforce that contributes to Africa’s economic development.