Debora Sano

Ethiopian social entrepreneur empowering women through textile training

Debora Sano (b. 1975) is a visionary Ethiopian entrepreneur whose organization Sheffa Africa has transformed thousands of lives through textile training programs. Born in Addis Ababa during a period of political turmoil, she witnessed first-hand the economic struggles of women in her community. After studying fashion design in Paris, she returned to Ethiopia in 2003 to launch Sheffa Africa, which provides free tailoring education and microloans to marginalized women. The program's unique approach combines technical training with business skills, enabling graduates to start their own sewing businesses. Over 15 years, Sheffa Africa has trained over 5,000 women, creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment across rural Ethiopia. Notable partnerships include collaborations with UN Women and Oxfam, which have helped scale the initiative to neighboring countries. Sano's TED Talk "How sewing machines are sewing together Ethiopian communities" (2015) brought global attention to her work. Her innovative model has been replicated in Kenya and Rwanda, proving that sustainable economic development begins with investing in women's skills. In 2019, she launched the African Fashion Collective, connecting trained artisans with international buyers through an online marketplace. This initiative has increased average household incomes by 300% among participants, demonstrating measurable impact. Sano's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals #5 (Gender Equality) and #8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), making her a key figure in Africa's grassroots economic transformation.