Miriam Feza is the founder of Clay Cosmo, a Uganda-based business that trains and employs refugee women to make beauty products using clay and other natural ingredients. 

HOW FLEEING THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO LED TO CLAY COSMO

Miriam’s motivation to work alongside refugees comes from personal experience. “I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she shared. “In 2015, political instabilities forced me to flee to Uganda and I became a refugee. Like many of the million refugees in Uganda, I was lost and did not know how to sustain myself.” 

Financially unstable, Miriam found herself in unsafe situations in an effort to survive. Then in 2016 she joined Social Innovation Academy (SINA), an organization that tackles failing education and unemployment across the country through community hubs. At SINA, Miriam completed a program that “helped me and hundreds of others to overcome fears and unleash potentials we did not even know existed. I found meaning in my previous suffering and motivation to support others in similar situations.”

More than 80 percent of Uganda’s refugees are women and children, according to a 2022 study by The UN Refugee Agency. Like Miriam, many of these women often struggle to provide for their families—exposing them to exploitation, prostitution, abuse and other dangerous situations. 

HOW CLAY COSMO WORKS WITH REFUGEES IN UGANDA

Clay Cosmo trains and hires refugee women to produce facial masks, soaps, facial and hair oils, body scrubs and shea butter—all made from natural products. They soon plan to launch a shampoo and conditioner, too. 

Miriam joined the Fall 2022 Cohort of the Because Accelerator, where she learned about strategies for growth and was paired with Cindy Martin, who joined the Advisor Network in March 2022.

“My experience was so impactful,” shared Miriam. “I’m very grateful for Cindy as a coach. She is empathetic, understanding and very supportive, which helped us reach planned goals and objectives.”

At the end of her cohort, Miriam was awarded first place in the Because Accelerator pitch competition, where global entrepreneurs who participated in the program are invited to pitch for a chance to win funding.

“It was such a privilege from a refugee background to win such an international prize and be an example for many that it is possible no matter your background to make it,” Miriam shared. “The [funds] will support purchasing equipment for our production space, purchasing organically-certified products, and building our marketing strategies and platforms to increase sales.” 

In five years, Miriam hopes to have three branches of Clay Cosmo to employ 5,000 East African refugee women.

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.