Sisters raise an incredible $10,000 to support the women of Moreomaoto
Safaris change lives. When ecotourism comes to an area it uplifts the local community, providing employment and community support. When travellers come to see wildlife they often leave deeply touched by the people they meet and the impactful work they see.
When sisters Riley (17) and Mara (15) visited Mbamba, Tawana and Jack’s Camp on a family holiday to Botswana in 2025, they came away resolved to raise funds to help the women living in the area they visited. They’ve now fundraised a total of $10,000. We spoke to Riley to find out more.
Where did the idea come from for Project Sewing Hope?
“Project Sewing Hope was born out of a family trip to Botswana last summer, where Mara and I were deeply moved by the strength and skill of local women artisans. Seeing how central tourism is to the local economy, we wanted to provide the tools and resources necessary to foster long-term financial independence and spark generational impact.”
Please tell us about Project Sewing Hope.
“Project Sewing Hope is an initiative founded by two sisters to empower the women of Moreomaoto. By providing sewing machines, quality fabrics, and essential tools, our goal is to help them develop sustainable skills and build businesses that will continue long after we step away.”
What fundraising have you undertaken so far?
“Our primary initiative was a community thrift sale hosted at our local high school in Bethesda, Maryland. Over several months, we gathered, sorted, and catalogued more than 1,000 pieces of gently used clothing. We promoted the event across our community through social media campaigns and by distributing flyers in local shops. On the day of the sale, more than 100 shoppers turned out, helping us raise over $4,000 while spreading meaningful awareness for Project Sewing Hope. Alongside the event, we launched a GoFundMe campaign and reached out to family, friends, and community members to help close the gap toward our target.”
What do you still have planned?
“We will continue updating our website to document the entire journey and serve as a living record of the community’s impact. Looking ahead, our hope is that Project Sewing Hope can live on as an annual initiative so that it can continue to support the women of Moreomaoto on an ongoing basis.”
Are you enjoying the fundraising process?
“Absolutely. This project is very close to our hearts, and every moment spent working toward equipping and supporting these women has been immensely rewarding. We cannot wait to see the impact that we can make for the women of Moreomaoto.”
I see that you’ve now reached $10,000 – an extraordinary achievement! How do you intend to celebrate your success and will you be returning to Botswana to see the difference you’ve made?
“As we are writing this, we are thrilled to announce that we have achieved our $10,000 goal, which is twice what we set out to raise at the beginning of the project. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we received from everyone in our community.
We plan to celebrate alongside the friends, family, and community members who rallied behind us to make this possible. We would also love to return to Botswana in the future to visit the Mmogo Centres for Women. Reconnecting in person with the incredible artisans who inspired this initiative from the start would be an unforgettable full-circle moment. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing our close partnership with the Natural Selection Foundation as the funds are utilized by the women of Moreomaoto. We can’t wait to see the incredible things these amazing women will do.”
To follow along the sisters’ journey, please visit www.projectsewinghope.com
This amount will support a core group of 23 women who are active in the Mmogo craft centre. The money will fund sewing machines and other essentials, enabling the women who currently sew by hand, to boost their output and bring in more income for their families and the community at large.
To find out more about the work the sisters are supporting, click here to read more about our project: Mmogo Centres for Women