Confronting Our Own Poverty

Dostoyevsky famously said, “Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.” And although the events of the past year have sparked a wave of selfless generosity and courage, much of the past year has also felt like a reckoning. The poverty of our love and our imagination; the poverty…

“We could never have had this kind of impact”: Leveraging Local Expertise in CCW Multiplication

When looking back over this past winter, it’s not hard to see how the math adds up.  In 2019, Loom had begun conversations with leaders in Uganda who wanted to co-host a Celebrating Children Workshop (CCW) in 2020. As we talked further about a CCW Uganda, everyone agreed that 70 participants was the maximum number…

Staff Picks of 2020

This month we asked each staff member to submit one book, article, or podcast that has been especially meaningful to them in 2020. Here is what they said:    Anna: “I love this podcast, it is a go-to for me.”   Eva: “Normally I read a lot of variety of books, but this year it has…

Beauty Takes Time

Recently one of our staff has been sharing photos with us of traditional African textiles. While Africa is now known for its bright, exquisite wax-printed fabrics, for many centuries the intricate art of weaving on hand looms has also been a large part of their textile heritage. As we read through descriptions of the laborious…

12 Gifts of 2020

This December, we are reflecting on all the gifts that this most unusual year as held. We have seen this year simultaneously challenge, stretch, discourage, and inspire innovation and creativity, both for us here at Loom and social innovators across East Africa. Today we invite you to celebrate twelve of the many gifts of 2020…