Indego Africa

Indego Africa
Founded November 2007
Focus Fair Trade, Education, Women's Rights
Location
Area served
Rwanda
Method Social Enterprise
Key people
 Karen Yelick (CEO)
Website http://www.indegoafrica.org/

Indego Africa is a nonprofit social enterprise that supports women in Rwanda through economic empowerment and education. Founded in 2007, Indego Africa partners with female artisans in Rwanda and sells their handcrafted products worldwide, pooling the profits, along with grants and donations, to fund education programs for them in business management, entrepreneurship, literacy, and technology.[1][2][3] On October 1, 2014, Indego Africa launched a Leadership Academy in Kigali, Rwanda to provide advanced business education for those of its artisan partners who had mastered its basic education programs.[4] This groundbreaking initiative, the only one of its kind in Rwanda, will help grow the next generation of powerful female leaders and change-makers in the country.

History

Indego Africa was founded in 2007 by father and son team Matt and Tom Mitro.[1] Their goal was to help women artisans break cycles of poverty by connecting them with global markets in which to sell their goods and education to more effectively manage and grow their own businesses. In mid-2007, Indego Africa began its first partnership with a cooperative of 30 female artisans in Kigali called Cocoki. Seven years later, Indego Africa partners with over 600 women across 18 cooperatives, selling their products through its website, boutiques worldwide, and collaborations with major designers and brands including: Anthropologie,[5] DANNIJO, J Crew, Jonathan Adler, Madewell, and P.S.- I made this...[6][7]

Social Impact

Indego Africa is steadfastly committed to transparency and proven impact. Each year it conducts a robust social impact assessment collecting quantitative and qualitative data on the progress of its artisan partners, and publishing the results. Its reports to date show steady improvements in its partners' income, educational outcomes, entrepreneurial activities, and quality of life.[8] As of 2013, 69% of its artisan partners made over $1.50 a day vs. 3% in 2010; 89% reported that Indego Africa trainings helped them run their cooperatives or other businesses; 54% participated in a business outside their cooperative; 77% could afford to send all of their children to school; and 90% could afford healthcare.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Indego Africa About Us". Indego Africa. Indego Africa. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
  2. ↑ Suqi, Rima (10-9-2013). "The New York Times". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2014-10-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ McGinn, Kathleen (2010-11-15). "The Indego Africa Project". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
  4. ↑ Stone, Benjamin (4/10/2014). "Empowering Female Entrepreneurs in Rwanda". Council on Foreign Relations Development Channel. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2014-10-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ↑ Zalopany, Chelsea (2010-09-30). "Feel-Good Scarves | Anthropologie". The New York Times Style Magazine. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
  6. ↑ Stadlen, Rebecca (7-10-2014). "Vogue Magazine". Vogue.com. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2014-10-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Cohen, Laura (7-10-2014). "Now You Can Shop the Colorful Mission For Good". Marieclaire.com. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2014-10-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ "Indego Africa Impact". Indego Africa. Indego Africa. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
  9. ↑ "Indego Africa 2014 Social Impact Report" (PDF). indegoafrica.org. Indego Africa. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
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