It’s the time of year where we all start the rituals of picking out gifts for our loved ones. Usually it’s easy enough to select gifts for the people you know and love,  but somehow there’s always one who just seems un-buyable-for, and so you end up panic-buying something generic. Even though you ask yourself “Does Aunt Mary really need a factory-made mug from an overpriced coffee chain?” you just can’t find the perfect gift.

This year, instead of the ubiquitous gift card or predictable present, why not try one of our alternative gift solutions? For just a few dollars you can directly and profoundly impact the life of someone in Uganda, as well as provide a creative and unique gift to your loved ones.

We are selling a variety of Ugandan crafts which we purchase directly from the artisans who create them. This year we’re excited to feature super comfy and comfortable trousers hand crafted by Kampala’s best young designer, Betty Nanonyo. We’re also happy to introduce a line of jewellery from Racheal Ndagire, a young woman who invests the profits from her work towards the creation of a home for street girls.

ISEE will be at two events this week: The Ladies Shopping Night on Wednesday Nov. 19 at St. Joseph’s Elementary from 6-9pm, and The Glenmore Artisan’s Fair at Glenmore Elementary on Saturday November 22 from 9-3. Come down to one or both!

We’re also super pleased to announce our first annual Alternative Christmas Gift Guide. It’s got some great ideas for socially-conscious gifts that are perfect for giving to hard-to-buy-for Aunts, friends, colleagues or parents. After all, anyone can get a cheesy mug from $tarbuck$, but how many people can say their gift was a life-changing small business investment? Or that their stocking stuffer enabled a girl to go to school for three years?