JOURNAL

Zawadisha is a non-profit whose mission is to finance the livelihoods of rural Kenyan women and 100% of all proceeds from our shop benefit our microlending program. What makes our model so special? Find out here.

Why did our founder Jen Gurecki start our microlending program in Kenya? Well, poverty is sexist.

In July, Zawadisha did something that no one expected. We opened a retail shop in the available space adjacent to our office in Maungu. In a matter of days, the team cleaned, painted and stocked the shelves. Flyers circulated among the surrounding villages, and on the morning of the first day a line of local women waited for the doors to open.

Our commitment to planting trees goes beyond offsetting our environmental impact. It's about deliberate actions that will help to make women's lives better, support vibrant under-resourced communities, and help repair the damage caused by deforestation. 

Recent research has questioned the effectiveness of micro-loans for businesses, but it's also shown that when micro-loans are used for household items, such as are Zawadisha’s, the system is extremely successful. Learn more about our model and what makes it shine. 

Get close to the magic of basket weaving with Gladys Malemba in this short video, shot at her homestead in the Taita Hills. She shares some of the secrets of twining, natural dyeing, and basketweaving.