Fair Trade & Sustainability
Fair trade is an important element of the Soko Rafiki approach. As such, Soko Rafiki works directly with women's cooperatives and CBO's (community based organizations), a mainstay of local commerce and activism throughout Africa. Soko Rafiki's goal is to provide economic strengthening for these groups, whose members use funds to pay school fees for their children and support orphans in their communities. Soko Rafiki has initiated buying agreements with cooperatives and community based organizations which guarantee purchasing throughout the year so artisans and craftspeople are assured a consistent income. Work environment of artists and craftspeople is important to Soko Rafiki and care is taken to insure partners are comfortable in their environment and do not feel pressure to produce beyond acceptable and agreeable industry standards.
We initiate buying agreements with cooperatives and community based organizations to guarantee purchasing throughout the year and assure a consistent income.
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. While Soko Rafiki is committed to providing economic opportunities for its partners, sustainability is a key indicator when making business decisions. The environment is always of utmost concern and, where applicable, Soko Rafiki insists upon the use of naturally grown products that are easily replenished. This is apparent in Soko Rafiki's offering of sisal and wool bags as both utilize readily available products and are replenished easily.
Plastic and synthetic materials have created many problems in the environment, especially in developing countries. You can now find plastic bags littered along the highways of Africa. This is not only aesthetically unappealing, they also block drains, choke farm animals and marine wildlife and pollute the soil as they break down. WANGARI Mathaai, the assistant minister for the environment of Kenya and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has linked plastic bag litter with malaria. The bags, when discarded, can fill with rainwater, offering an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
By using woven sisal and wool bags for your groceries and other marketing needs, you can directly benefit Soko Rafiki partners. And by doing so you can help promote a cleaner, more beautiful world here and abroad.