GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK
Each item is ethically sourced from local artisans, preserving generations of African heritage and craft. And it funds our microloan program for women, creating ripples of opportunity for their families and community.
Mambo!Hello from Kenya
Meet the hands behind it
Our sisal baskets are handwoven in Taita Taveta County, the rural corner of Kenya that Zawadisha calls home. Each one is woven by hand, carrying a craft that has been handed down through generations of women.
Made by hand with love
Like a fingerprint, no two sisal baskets are alike. The one in the photo is the one you'll get, and once it's gone, it's gone.
Life changing. Magical. Their words, not ours.
Two ways to travel slow and meet the makers. Pick your pace: two wheels or two hands.
Slow travel on two wheels
Pedal from the Maasai Mara to the white sand beaches of Diani. Along the way you'll glamp in safari tents, be wowed by the wildlife, and meet the women of Zawadisha face to face.
Reserve with a $250.00 deposit
Your skillcation awaits
A small-group journey where ethical travel meets true Swahili soul. Learn alongside Kenyan makers, from the creative workshops of Nairobi to the wild savannah of Tsavo.
Reserve with a $250.00 deposit
za·wa·di·sha (verb, Swahili)
That's what our name means, and it's what every piece does. It pays an artisan fairly for her craft. Then every purchase funds microloans for women in rural Kenya, for household and business essentials.
Tap a card. Learn a little Swahili.
Mikono
Tap to flip
Mikono means
hands
Every piece is made by hand by co-ops and artisans who blend local tradition with modern style.
Heshima
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Heshima means
dignity
Everything is ethically made, providing dignified employment and fair pay for the work.
Pamoja
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Pamoja means
together
A team of women in the US and Kenya, serving thousands of women and hundreds of artisans.
Neema Women Group · Mwacharo, Kenya
What's inside? That's the fun part.
A box of handmade treasures hand-picked by our founder, Jen Gurecki, from across Africa. It could hold textiles, carved wood, jewelry, or ceramics. No two are ever the same.
Each box holds at least $150 in brand-new, first-quality goods.
Donate To Zawadisha
They have the drive. The intelligence. The determination.
What they lack is access. Your tax deductible gift to Zawadisha changes that.
Every dollar you give funds microloans that women repay and we relend. That means your single donation creates waves of change: one gift becomes two impacts, then three, then four. A solar lamp you fund today lights up multiple homes over the next five years. A rainwater tank you provide gives multiple women their time back. Your generosity doesn't just help once—it multiplies.
Zawadisha is a registered 501(c)(3). EIN 46-0583426.
From the journal
Get behind the scenes with Zawadisha.
Impact
One of the most effective ways to support girls is to support their mothers. Here's how donating or shopping ethically with Zawadisha funds microloans that give Kenyan women and their daughters water, light, and opportunity.
Read the story
Come find us
Every summer we sweat it out at local farmers' markets and community events with our arms full of gorgeous, handcrafted goods from across Africa. Here's where to find us in the Reno/Tahoe area in 2026.
Read the story
Travel
We want to tell you about a different kind of safari, one where you're not watching Africa through a window. You're in it.
Read the storyGet behind the scenes with Zawadisha and save 15% on your first order.
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