Mifuko
Mifuko was founded in 2009 by Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen, both graduates of the University of Industrial Arts and Design, Helsinki. They are a Finnish design company producing handicrafts such as colorful kiondo baskets, jewellery and bags, combining Finnish design with traditional Kenyan handicraft techniques. All their products are beautifully handwoven by artisan women in rural Kenya in small workshops in the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa.
Mifuko’s products are already handcrafted by more than 700 artisans, providing an important source of income for rural women in Kenya. By purchasing a product from them, you can influence directly in the story of the author of the product. By subscribing to their newsletter you can get more information about new products, discounts and their social impact work, besides receiving a 20% discount code by joining their mailing list.
Ojoba Collective
Ojoba Collective is a social enterprise co-founded by Johan and Tracy Wulfers in 2003. They use Fair Trade principles as a vehicle for creating healthy, empowered, and environmentally sustainable rural communities. For the last 18 years, they have worked directly with producer groups in West Africa. Ethically sourced natural plant oils, such as baobab oil and shea butter, for high quality skin care ingredients combined with empowerment of marginalised communities and various capacity building projects define Ojoba Collective’s unique character and mission. They also do consulting work for ethical companies interested in creating successful capacity building projects in their supply chain..
During the past years, they implemented solar and simple rocket stove technologies, permaculture training, workshops on organic practices, re-use and recycling packaging, and much more. Together with their business partner LUSH, they co-fund multiple social development projects in rural Ghana, watch the video to meet these women of Ojoba collective!
Maailmankauppojen liitto ry (Finnish Association of Worldshops)
The Finnish Association of Worldshops is a network of 22 Finnish World Shops. They support small family farms and artisan groups in developing countries and provide them with employment opportunities, also highlighting the efforts of disadvantaged people in their own societies, such as the disabled and women.
The Association publishes a Fair Trade Magazine called Maailmankauppalehti, 20 000 – 40 000 copies per issue. The articles cover fair trade producer groups, products and raw materials, as well as the circumstances of developing countries. In recent years, the focal point of the magazine has been to inform people about Fair Trade artisans’ level of wages and purchasing power of money in different countries.
Tampereen Kehitysmaakauppa
Tampereen kehitysmaakauppa (TKMK) is a non-profit association born in 1983 whose purpose is to promote Fair Trade between industrialized and developing countries in order to raise producers’ position in the value chain, both internally and internationally. It is part of the Finnish Association of World shops and founder member of IFAT. Besides instant coffee from KCU (**) and growers own factory, Tanica ground and beans roasted coffee are its main specialty, including high-quality Kilimanjaro coffee, a distinctive washed Arabica from Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union (KNCU) members in northern Tanzania.
TKMK has recently faced several challenges in its overall sales as the number of Finnish world shops has gone down, without noncurrent permanent shops. There is also national favoritism of bigger development consultant companies working with non-Fair Trade retailers that hinder a deeper implementation of projects focusing on local sustainability and small producers. However, TKMK keeps up with a strong commitment to supporting local added value initiatives for coffee farmers. For instance: Café Caracol in Chiapas, Mexico, an indigenous solidarity coffee organization pre-financed by TKMK with consumers’ support; besides promoting environmentally friendly techniques, supporting Tanica in Tanzania on their plan to update roasting and packaging methods to save energy in production. TKMK is working in a constant effort to benefit and protect farmers and their communities, showing the importance of a fair relationship reflected in every life of each smallholder farmer. Photo: Heiveld cooperative, South Africa