PRESS PACKETspring 2015

Akola Project is a non-profit with a mission-related jewelry business that invests in women in extreme poverty to become agents of transformation in

their families and communities.

4 4 1 W O M E N E M P O W E R E D

100% of Akola’s earned income from product sales are reinvested in the social mission to train and employ women who lack economic opportunity,

empowering them forge a path out of poverty that is sustainable.

T H O U S A N D S O F L I V E S T R A N S F O R M E D

The Akola journey began with a 10 minute meeting that changed my life. In 2004, I was moved to compassion as a sophomore in college after meeting a Ugandan woman named Sarah who cared for 24 street children in her home. Compassion escalated to action as I founded an organization to construct an orphanage home to house children who slept on Sarah’s floor.

In 2006, we began the construction of the orphanage and the drill-ing of over 20 water wells throughout the country. As we traveled to dif-ferent villages, we were amazed by women who cared for 10+ children in their homes. Like Sarah, they had a hope and vision for their families; they simply did not have the income or confidence to embrace their call-ing. After completing the orphanage, we discovered that by training and employing 441 women and guaranteeing them a monthly income we could care for thousands of children, without the construction of an orphanage home.

In 2007, we launched a new sustainable model to uplift women and children. The women named it ‘Akola,’ which means ‘to work’ in their local dialect. In 2010, I moved from Uganda to the US get my mas-ter ’s degree in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. After 5 years in the field, I worked with the best development practitioners in the country to develop a sustainable impact model for women. The work paid off. Over the last 7 years, Akola Project has blossomed into a thriv-ing social business that has impacted thousands women and children in extreme poverty.

Thanks to incredible efforts from our teams in Uganda and the US, Akola is poised to grow our impact significantly through our develop-ment projects and the success of our Akola product line that will launch through a national department store in 2015. We launched Akola Dallas in 2014 to offer an economic alternative to sex trafficking victims through business training and employment at our US distribution center.

I am excited to share our model that has become a platform to in-spire a generation of social entrepreneurs to deliver the highest level of impact to transform the lives of women and children in poverty. Our goal is to encourage new thinking about international development and to inspire the next generation of social innovators.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

With gratitude,

Brittany Merrill Underwood

Akola Project, Founder & President

Brittany was named the ‘Best Person in the World’ by Yahoo in 2014 and was honored by clothing manufacturer Levi as one of 50 women around the globe who have changed the political, cultural and spiritual shape of the future. She was awared the Emerging Leader Award from SMU in 2013, received the Young Leader Award from Dallas Women’s Foundation in 2014, and was the 2014 ‘My Michele Moment’ rcipient for Michele Watches. Brittany was asked to join the elite mentoring class for the Laura Bush Women’s Initiative.

Brittany joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University in 2015 where she teaches a new course in Social Innovation while she continues to devote herself to improving the lives of women and children as the Founder and President of Akola Project. Her vision for Akola is to create a global brand that trains, empowers and employs marginalized women around the world.

D E V E L O P M E N T M O D E L :

V O C A T I O N A LT R A I N I N G

C O M M U N I T YI N F R A S T R U C T U R E

H I G H - F A S H I O NP R O D U C T S

D E P E N D A B L EE M P L O Y M E N T

H O I S T I CP R O G R A M S

LAST INGSUSTA INAB IL ITY

- 0 7 -

H O I S T I CP R O G R A M S

LAST INGSUSTA INAB IL ITY

2 V O C A T I O N A L

T R A I N I N G C E N T E R S

2 3 W A T E R W E L L S

3 5 0 R E T A I L P A R T N E R S

( I n c l u d i n g T O M S M a r k e t p l a c e +

D i l l a r d ’ s )

6 3 W O M E N

L A U N C H E D L O C A L B U S I N E S S E S

4 4 1 W O M E N E A R N I N G

D E P E N D A B L E I N C O M E

3 7 , 7 4 5 A K O L A

U N I T S S O L D T O D A T E

I M P A C T T O D A T E :

- 0 8 -

- 0 9 -

M E D I A M E N T I O N S :Akola development model + products

A N K O L E H O R N

Ethically sourced Ankole horn statements. The collection includes ear-rings, bracelets and necklaces that provide vocational training and de-

pendable employment for 441 women in Uganda + Dallas.

- 1 1 -

- 1 2 -

- 1 3 -

P A P E R B E A D S

Meticulously hand-rolled paper beads available in 13 on-trend color-ways each season. The collection includes necklaces and bracelets that

empower the consumers and makers.

Spring 2015 colorways:

- 1 4 -

- 1 5 -

- 1 6 -

E T H I O P I A N M E T A L S

Hand-cast metal beads from Ethiopian artisans are sourced and paired with glass and semi-precious stones for Akola designs. The collection includes necklaces and bracelets that support the sustainable trans-

formation of women in poverty.

- 1 7 -

N o . 3 A T L A S

S E A G L A S S || S O U R C E D F R O M K E N Y A

$68

- 1 8 -

- 1 9 -

For press inquiries + speaking engagements : jenny@ellecomm.com