WELCOME TO ZAWADISHA

We're your social good marketplace that uplifts women. Our name is Swahili and means to give a gift, which is quite fitting for our little shop.

We scour the continent of Africa for the most beautiful, exceptionally crafted and ethically sourced handmade goods, supporting in local artisans and communities.

Then we invest 100% of sales into our microlending program that has served thousands of women in Kenya. Pretty cool, right?

BOLD. BEAUTIFUL. YOU.

Handmade jewelry from Cape Town, South Africa

Zawadisha provides small loans to rural Kenyan women to help finance their livelihoods

  • We remove the barriers for rural women to access essential household items like solar lamps, rain water tanks, and clean cook stoves. We deliver these items directly to their homes in rural villages and they pay for them over time.

  • When women living in poverty have access to renewable energy and water, they see a dramatic increase in the quality of their lives. Money is spent on school fees for children instead of on kerosene lamps. Women can use the six hours they would have spent walking to a river for water or into the forest for fuel wood on income-generating activities. Women’s status in the home is elevated as they are the ones responsible for the dramatic changes that benefit the entire family.

  • When you purchase something from our shop, you are not only supporting local artisans from around Africa, you are helping us provide more loans for essential household items that radically improve the lives of women and their families.

There's a reason why they sell out

One of a kind and handmade by the women from our community

LET'S GO ✈️

Join us on one of our guided tours through Kenya

JOURNAL

  • Say Hello to our Reno Shop Within a Shop
    Say Hello to our Reno Shop Within a Shop

    Say Hello to our Reno Shop Within a Shop

    Learn more about our Shop Within a Shop at Wyld Market in Reno, Nevada.

  • Ujamaa: Uplifting everyone 💗
    Ujamaa: Uplifting everyone 💗

    Ujamaa: Uplifting everyone 💗

    The value and importance of the principles of Kwanzaa extend far beyond the holiday. Each day of Kwanzaa highlights a different principle that is seeped in African culture. They also happen to be key tenants of Zawadisha's work.
  • Custom Tours: Where Our Secret Gems Become Yours
    Custom Tours: Where Our Secret Gems Become Yours

    Custom Tours: Where Our Secret Gems Become Yours

    Have you always wanted to go to Kenya but need help figuring out where to start? We get it. Planning a trip to Kenya can be overwhelming and confusing, but that's where we come in. At Zawadisha, we're are here to make your wildest African dreams come true.