At mothers2mothers (m2m), we celebrate the Wonder Women employed as Mentor Mothers and it is great to see that our supporters do too! Last week, Thandi Ojeer, founder of Tandi Fashion, organised an m2m Wonder Women Tea with a twist.  

Guests mingle at the Shop For Good Pop-Up.

Held at 10 Trinity Square, Four Seasons Private Members Club, the tea centred around a ‘Shop For Good’ pop-up where several brands came together to show support not only for each other but for m2m and the women and clients we serve.

Thandi’s own clothing line, Tandi Fashion, was one of the brands at the event, having supported m2m since the beginning of the year. Thandi spent her childhood in Kenya and her style is influenced by East African colours and tradition. Thandi’s dresses are crafted from an East African fabric called kanga—a material known for its bold designs and Swahili messages printed within the patterns. Collected from Tanzania, the fabric is then transformed into beautiful dresses in her current hometown of London.

Other brands included handbag designer, Asprey of London, ethical swimwear from Tidal Swimwear and Tanzanian jewellery brand, MWA. It was a pleasure to meet like minded, creative individuals who were supporting the work of m2m.

Thandi Ojeer, founder of Tandi Fashion, next to an array of her dress designs.

Talking about why she supports m2m, Thandi said, “At an event similar to this I once met a lovely couple and after speaking with them for a while the conversation turned to healthcare. One of them turned to me and said, “I am HIV-positive.” It had a huge impact on me. The fact that he felt comfortable and empowered to disclose his status and share this with me was hugely powerful.”

This idea of creating a safe space where people can be open about their HIV status, free from stigma and judgement forms the very basis of m2m’s Mentor Mother model. As women living with HIV, Mentor Mothers know first hand what their clients are going through and walk with them through their journey with HIV—from disclosure to treatment and prevention. As of June 2019, over 1,700 women were employed as Mentor Mothers across the eight countries where we work in sub-Saharan Africa. That is over 1,700 women who are taking control of their health and creating positive change for other women, children, and adolescents within their communities.

Some of Thandi’s designs, made from Tanzanian fabrics.

We are so grateful to supporters like Thandi who recognise the power of m2m Mentor Mothers and are helping to raise funds so they can reach more women and families in their community! If you would like to organise your own Wonder Women Celebration, get in touch at [email protected]. Or if you are a brand and are interested in a charity collaboration, contact Roisin at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.