We have been working with Isatou on her women's empowerment program under Women's Initiative Gambia. She explains it has been their dream for years to link their already established work with access to capital for their entrepreneurs.
She describes the struggle for the kind, motivated disabled women of The Gambia to work, succeed and be seen by the community for their true value and presence. Previously rejected by the communities to which they were born and value so much, they sought support and inspiration at Women's Initiative Gambia and with this inspirational female leader.
Isatou offers such women of disability an opportunity to study locally directed entrepreneurship, business creation and financial skills. She performs this alongside her work tree planting in schools and educating the next generation around environmental sustainability and what we can all pragmatically do about it.
However, this catch up was about the mindsets, she explains.
'You need to understand, the money Origin contributed, it has allowed us to pursue our dream that we could not get to for years. The women's mindsets have changed as a result of someone believing in them, willing to give them access to money. The positive psychological affects of this work is fantastic, really.'
Origin donated profits to the tune of £1000 in April with which W.I.G has established an interest-free, well supported and well governed community loans system for the disabled women. These are the future's female leaders with ideas, motivation and drive to make it work and see it through.
With holistic and ongoing support, the women are further empowered to pursue their concepts without the risk of going into unmanageable debt. Speaking to Isatou, learning from her experiences and those around her, you don't really need to go on to work out if this is what Origin should be doing but if you do:
Link this to the evidence: Provided by research such as the Young Lives Study observing the key determinants to child poverty in 12,000 study children, their families and their classmates, research institutes, universities and NGOs in four study countries as well as Nobel Prize Winning Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee's extensive ongoing committed research to poverty alleviation at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT, the latest evidence points to a number of beneficial actions but none more so than offering entrepreneurship opportunity to female leaders from genuine poverty backgrounds with a co-existing training initiative.
Origin, as a clothing brand, is doing this and, make no mistake, your purchase of Origin clothing makes this work happen. And to think, the alternative is a cheaper T shirt from Primark which might last you a whole season ; )
So, from the latest graduates at Women's Initiative Gambia, Isatou herself and the Origin team, thank you for showing your purchasing choices can have a positive impact.
p.s Keep an eye out for our upcoming collaboration with a UK-based accessible fashion brand to champion diversity and inclusion within the industry
]]>Problem 1: Historically, in manufacturing, the value-added activity has been prioritised to the Global North. Hence the wealth gap increases. This leaves individuals and communities in places like Kikambala, Kenya, with very little control over their own economic path.
Problem 2: The textile industry has a responsibility to clean up its act. Enormous swathes of polyester and energy consuming materials are produced to satisfy an increasingly fickle market of consumption in the global north. All this production takes energy, resources and often denatures water and fertile land (let’s not forget recycling clothing takes energy too).
Fashion Revolution Kenya worked with the British Council in 2020 to investigate what materials really are the most efficacious and least environmentally damaging to produce apparel. They looked to establish the pros and cons of each fibre and where improvements still needed to be made. The fibres were nettle, flax, pineapple, banana, hemp, water hyacinth, sisal, cotton, silk and fish leather and wool. A lot of these do not produce suitable fabric for garments but it’s worth having a look at this paper because the options are exciting!
The latest evidence points to the use of cotton but not in its traditional sense of landscape changing vast production that harms environments and livelihoods. However, the Report does highlight, along with other cutting edge non biased research such as the Transformers Foundation’s Cotton Myths Debunked, that a sustainable solution is to overcome the issue of water consumption (an oft-quoted criticism of cotton) by ensuring production is catalysed by rain water rather than mass hectares of irrigated land: ‘A shift to mainly or solely using rain-fed cotton is a tangible solution when looking to create a more sustainable industry.’
When looking to establish our own supply chain from the get-go, it took time. We had to make sure we were making the right choices. This included country of origin, textile of the garment, materials consumed, methods employed, dyes used, pesticide consumption, quality of garments, nature of factory and finally, conditions in which the garment workers worked. Let’s come back to that in a moment.
So, having done our research, we settled on rain-fed cotton, using an absolute minimum of pesticides along with natural water-based dyes that would not denature water, and we would go to establish the ethics of production ourselves as cottage industries in Kenya have yet been unable to establish the expensive ‘Organic’ certification, albeit in planning.
Environmentally satisfied we were doing everything possible to tackle problem 2, back to Problem 1!
We needed to find a way to ensure clothing was being produced in a way that was respectful and even beneficial to those working in the supply chain. This needed to include ensuring basic employment rights such as maternity leave, secure contracts and protection from unlawful loss of employment. It also meant looking at working conditions to make sure that harmful materials were not being used, that working hours were not exploitative and that the factory was at a temperature which was not detrimental to health. Finally we also needed to ensure that workers had the opportunity to progress and develop.
According to a 2019 Oxfam Australia report, 9 out of 10 garment workers felt that their income is not sufficient or partially sufficient to meet their needs and, as a result, 87% of workers take loans from the local shop to fill their income expenditure gap. Fashion companies are forcing this to happen and consumers, all too often, don’t pay attention to the detail enough to see the harm caused in the production of their new garments. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Next Plc (the UK’s largest fast fashion brand) reported a profit of £823 million, up 140% from the previous year.
With some years of experience under our belt, we have come to a certain conclusion in fashion: If an organisation is not talking about the good things they are doing, they aren’t doing them. Basically, as consumers, we should be asking the hard questions. So, in researching our new supply chain, when we approached factories and organisations who could not explain to us their employment methods, their conditions of working or whether their employees were paid above the living wage, it was obvious to us that the organisation does not align with the ethics of Origin. We simply did not work with them.
However, after lengthy research and really at a point when we felt ethical production in Africa may well not be possible for Origin clothing, opportunities began to spring up that offered hope. We began to see this may be possible and may actually happen.
Working with garment factory SOKO Kenya in Kikambala and farm-to-fabric business Tosheka Textiles in Wote (both female-led businesses that emphasise female opportunity every day) one can see the unquestionable opportunity generated by good employment. Women are paid above the living wage, given appropriate training for personal and entrepreneurial development and are respected to pursue their own path for establishing themselves and ensuring a bright future for their families. With such an empowering culture for women, we decided we had to work with them. When profits are generated from this clothing, we share the profits equally with each step of the production process. This means that garment workers and their communities directly benefit from a greater proportion of value-added activity in the production process of the garments they actually made, thus fighting the enormous inequalities that have historically come from large companies keeping the poor down by extracting low-cost goods and adding all that value in the Global North. It is proven that for every woman that is lifted above thefinancial poverty line, she brings 7 people with her.
Now, why?
Well, as Sven Beckert explains in ‘The Empire of Cotton’, it is curious that after millennia of equal development in the Global South and North, what academics refer to as the ‘great divergence’ occurred at a time when cotton’s properties were being fully discovered and utilised to propel clothing into a massive world changing engine. The previously Southern industry of cotton was usurped by an increasingly Europe-centric business class and the seeds were ironically sown for this ‘great divergence’ to create a rich Global North at the cost of the Global South. Our supply chain methods directly combat this damaging skew.
We believe fashion has a responsibility to reverse the deleterious effects it has had on the Global South. The opportunities generated within our ethical and responsible supply chain are the weapon we can use to pursue that change and, as long as brands stick to the principles that make a social enterprise (or truly ethical brand), we can fight that battle together for as long as Origin keeps trading.
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In 2019, he received a cash donation to invest in his business firing clay bricks and eco clay stoves (they're eco because they require 1/3 the fuel of regular Gambian traditional stoves and are made entirely of natural materials from sustainable sources).
Well, he had numerous problems and delays as we all did as of March 2020, let's not mention the C word again.
So he bided his time, hunkered down and has finally made it fit into place at the right time. His business is flourishing with new orders every day and a stock of eco stoves ready to go. He now employs 10 people full time, 7 of whom are newly trained women in clay work, clay firing and sales.
He also diversified with his team to firing clay art work for local artists. He explains this side of business is going well too.
Beyond this, on a background of having been denied education past the age of 12 due to family financial pressures and societal pressures, through his business success and leadership he continues to inspire those around him.
Here's to you Mr Darbo!
]]>When we at Origin realised this was happening in the world we all share, we sought the most ethical supply of t-shirts available and for some time, this was through wholesale providers, of which there are a small available list. However, as we could not find concrete evidence of true ethics in business down to the ascertained fine detail, we needed to go one step further and create our own chain, which we have personally visited and seen with our own eyes. This way, we could be sure that, while working to generate profits (which I will come to in about 2 paragraphs), we were not causing any collateral harm. In fact, we were generating intrinsic opportunity within that production process itself as jobs creating rain-fed cotton garments from an entirely ethical supply chain in which garment workers are all paid above the living wage and work in suitable working conditions (from the physical building which is often the first thing that springs to mind when we talk about this but also down to duration of contracts and integrity of employers not to fire women when they announce pregnancy, yes this is happening! This topic is complicated and often not given due consideration in terms of its complexity but, in general, if a brand isn't talking about the good attributes of their supply chain, it simply is not happening so beware).
So, ethical garments made responsibly and safely can, in this way not cause intrinsic harm themselves and they can generate good jobs both for people who wish to go career in textiles and garment working but also for others who wish to use it as a stepping stone job into other things- this is also really common. Many of the garment workers we interviewed in Kenya had different ultimate goals but their current jobs in clothing production were providing them with stability and opportunity to save and develop themselves for the future and unleash their entrepreneurial selves.
Next, the profits! Latest empirical research points towards cash donations to entrepreneurs who have links to a training initiative of some sort. Yes, this is broad but the permutations of generating opportunity in the global south are beyond broad, they are infinite and Origin's latest research and garments workers surveys have demonstrated that. So, our profits are both shared with the supply chain organisations and, the third that stays with Origin is donated to social business entrepreneurs who have been highlighted and interview within in Entrepreneur Hub system- a system run by local people with local knowledge with respect to culture, language, tradition and business context.
This Entrepreneur Hub System is something we are working hard to develop but essentially allows opportunities to be identified more appropriately and with greater respect to cross cultural working as opposed to a historical power relationship between cultures where global northerners previously decided upon opportunity for global southerners. This is something we are determined to develop and learn more and more about. We may never perfect it but we will simply not stop learning as it is crucial to what Origin is trying to achieve for others: To generate opportunity for inspiring individuals and communities from more disadvantaged backgrounds for autonomous self ejection from poverty states both for themselves and those around them.
If you believe in what we do at Origin, the best things you can do are:
1. Spread the word of Origin to friends, family, social media, media, etc,
2. When you need a garment or a friend needs a garment as a gift, look to Origin as your first choice knowing the multitude of benefits that comes with that positive choice,
3. If you want to engage with us further, feed back to us or work with us in any other way, get in touch, we would love to hear from you: hello@originafrica.co.uk. We will always get back to you!
]]>We are incredibly excited and proud of our new supply chain, which we have set up this year and will produce our first products in July 2022. From now on this will enable us to work towards creating the range we want. We have to be up honest that this cannot happen straight away (we are still super small and our budgets won’t allow huge investment in stock) but we are definitely on the right road.
Our new T-shirts, launching next month will be available in XXS-XXL, and next year we hope to extend this further as well as adding new products too.
Watch this space! And as always get in touch if you have any questions.
Love The Origin Team x
]]>Follow the step-by-step journey of the shirt and learn more about our choice of fabric here.
As we mention above, all production requires consumption which includes recycled materials. Then you need to consider the impact of the life-cycle of the recycled material - for example recycled polyester will shed micro-fibres each time it is washed. Finally, at the end of life for the recycled garment the challenges still remain of how to safely dispose of the fabric itself without sending it to landfill. All things considered, we decided to choose a natural material which has been grown in Africa for centuries. In choosing rain-fed African cotton we are also keeping the carbon footprint of the garment low as all steps of the supply chain happen in Kenya. See more about the supply chain here.
The honest answer to this is that certifications are complex. They take time, and money, and while they are important we must also understand the context of production when considering their merit. When choosing to use rain-fed cotton we found there were limited options available. When finding Tosheka we understood that the 'organic' certification takes a long time and though it is in progress for this fabric it is not a label we are currently able to use. We believe in being transparent and giving you all the information on this supply chain, so you can choose for yourselves whether or not this fabric is ethical and sustainable in the way it has been produced.
Even though there are lots of great small brands creating garments 'made in the UK' the reality is that farm to finished garment production is near impossible in this country. Most fibres are grown abroad and most fabric production happens outside of the UK too. Then value added steps are achieved in the global north. It was our goal and passion to not just export the cotton from Africa, but to keep all the value added steps in Africa too. That means that the cotton for our shirt is grown in Kenya, the fabric is woven in Kenya, the garment is stitched together in Kenya and the embroidery... yep that happens in Kenya too! This means the economy and workers are benefiting and that has a huge impact. And don't forget, we are sharing the profits generated with that supply chain too.
Brilliant question! This is one that we want everyone to be asking themselves and it is one we asked ourselves over 2 years ago when we set out on this journey. We extensively researched the options for production in Africa, and finally we found some fantastic options in Kenya. But we knew that desk research wasn't going to be enough which is why we decided to go and experience it for ourselves.
We have visited and experienced each step of the supply chain and we have met the people looming the cotton and making the clothes. We have seen the conditions, felt the fabric, interviewed the workers and discussed it with them. We fully immersive ourselves in the process and the impact it can have. We are confident in being honest and transparent about the entire supply chain because we have seen it with our own eyes and the positive impact it is having on the individuals and communities behind the garment.
At Origin, we keep no secrets so you can follow the journey yourself. You can also track the impact we are having by signing up to our newsletter and following our blog where we publish our ongoing impact report.
Thank you for reading and, if you have more questions, please do get in contact with us:
hello@originafrica.co.uk
]]>Picked by cotton farmers in North Eastern Kenya in Lamu County, Tosheka textiles (run by Lucy Lau-Bigham) purchase the cotton at a fair price as decided together. This is on the back of Lucy's years of work campaigning for the rights of cotton farmers. This is something she is very passionate about, 'We ensure we pay a good price for the cotton because historically the cartels in Kenya have abused these people to produce low cost clothing. With us, they are treated fairly and given a good price for the cotton'. We ensured Tosheka work with farmers of rain-fed cotton who do not use pesticides or other harmful chemicals. This ensures the water 'consumption' that is often associated with cotton growth is minimal. Once water is used to grow the fibre, it recycles through the water cycle i.e. it is not 'consumed' at this stage.
Classically, a great water consumption step is when 'plain white garments' are bleached. This is when water is properly consumed as it is turned into a chemical composition that requires treatment otherwise it is actively harmful to ecosystems. So, perhaps we shouldn't be calling white garments 'plain' as they have to be actively made white. The Sawa shirt is the colour as cotton intended.
Origin are immediately involved at this stage as it is the first choices and who to work with that impact the environmental footprint of the garment you put on.
Next, the Tosheka team in Wote, spin and loom the cotton into beautiful fabric.
It is at this stage that the Origin team begin to have a say in the creative aspects of the shirt design. The cotton weave that Tosheka produce is truly beautiful so we actually found that letting Mrs Lau Bigham take the lead here was very sensible. For our shirts, we needed 3km of natural cotton, undyed fabric.
Read more about Lucy Lau Bigham in our blog post dedicated to her. She is an inspirational female leader and a brand soulmate that we are so happy to work with.
Next, the fabric is taken to the SOKO Kenya factory in Kikambala, north of Mombasa. When the SOKO business had to move to the coast for space reasons, they had 140 local employees. When they moved, all 140 employees moved with them. The management team did an extensive survey into the local living wage then decided to adjust payment to the new region as well as pay the employees extra.
Chichi Carolyne, head of HR explains, 'SOKO pays above the living wage, and not just above the living wage. I don't know how I can put it. You can't compare with the factories or other organisations around. It is very very high.' She goes on to explain SOKO offers employees rights, a voice and education opportunities that remain few and far between in Kenya and, indeed across Africa.
This is truly an organisation that is striving to fight against poverty in the region and all the incumbent stresses and strains that sit with an individual and their community when they are dealing with poverty. SOKO Kenya is a shining light on the Kikambala coast and the retention of all 100% of their employees when they moved is unquestionable evidence of that.
The fabric, once it arrives at SOKO, is cut into the patterns that will then be made into the shirts and finally trimmed into the whole garment.
There are dedicated, skilled teams that perform each step to the highest standards while working in a comfortable and well supported working environment. These are good jobs with security and career progression which is rare in Kenya. Women are offered the same rights and opportunities as men and given extra support around childcare and breastfeeding in order to ensure they are treated fairly in their career and given true opportunity in the work place.
Lastly, the talented embroiderers are placed in the centre of the factory as if they are the old guard, experienced and authoritative in their work. They brand the garment in a meticulous and focussed way while they also seem to enjoy each other's company and clearly continuously learn from one another.
There you have it, the garment is complete.
Next, it is exported by sea from Kenya to the UK where it arrives at Origin HQ in North Devon one week later. After research, this is the least impactful way of transporting the garments to the UK. Moreover, we also pledge to import garments just once a year to minimise the carbon footprint of our clothing production.
For more details on the nitty gritty, read our Frankly Answered Questions, as no doubt these have cropped up!
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She tells an interesting story of when, at a conference in Nairobi, the Kenyan President at that time walked past her. She stopped him and asked him, 'If you didn't know how much you were going to get paid to do a task, would you do it?' He replied, 'No'. She went on the explain to him that was the situation for cotton farmers in eastern Africa. They have to wait for what the market decides is an appropriate price for their produce, they have to accept it then they will see whether or not they have enough money to get their families through the food insecure months of late dry and early wet season. This isn't fair for these people, she says.
Such unjust crises in cotton work and indeed across many industries in Africa have motivated Lucy to determinedly work hard over the years to create opportunity for those around her. She saw early on that COMMUNITY was central to widening the impact of success and security.
Interestingly, that President increased the minimum price of a kilogram of cotton the following year. She humbly explains she is not sure whether it has anything to do with her...
So, she set about establishing her own textile production company in which everyone must be paid fairly. As an activist and an environmentalist (less common in Africa as she explains), she sees the health of the land and all the plants and flowers as central to the sustainability of our communities, our work and our future. So, she emphasised early the importance of taking cotton from crop to fabric in a way that would not negatively impact the physical world we live in. She has also fought hard for the rights of women in these communities, to allow women autonomy, independence and freedom. She maintains this today and continues to lead by example, inspiring the women of Tosheka to pursue their dream whatever that may be. For these reasons, she calls Tosheka's products COMMUNITY TEXTILES.
And that is what she has established in Wote, Kenya. She now pays cotton farmers a fair price for their cotton, she pays her workers in the textile manufacture process a fair wage (and makes sure they are well looked after in a more holistic way as, when they join Tosheka, they join a community as well as a social enterprise) and she ensures she takes every available decision to protect the environment, using only NON-POLLUTIVE dyes and materials.
When we discussed her career and where she is now with Tosheka, she told us she was at the stage, with multi-factorial covid pressures, economic insecurity in Kenya and upcoming elections, at which she may have to fold the business when she got the call from Origin in early 2022, asking for 3000m of her natural cotton fabric that we wanted to make into beautiful shirts: 'Hallelujah, how do I make that happen!'
Well, she is currently making it happen. In order to assist her in getting the ball rolling, Origin gave her 75% advance in order to purchase new looms and train new weavers and build them into her social enterprise model.
Now we are days away from the fabric completion at which point it will be taken to the SOKO Kenya factory in Kikambala on the coast. What an achievement by Mrs Lau Bigham and her team.
To finish off, and this is where YOU, our loyal customers come in, when (and if) Origin makes profit from this innovative supply chain model, we will share it equally with Lucy and her beloved Tosheka Textiles, facilitating growth of her model, her positive impact and the future of her inspiring enterprise.
Buy your shirt and WEAR IT LIKE IT MATTERS.
]]>Last week, after two years of hard work we have finally launched our pioneering new ethical supply chain in Africa which will prove how fashion should be done.
As you know, we already use all of our profits to fund social impact projects. This new model will now divide the profits into thirds and equally distributes to these funds fabric makers, garments workers and finally, social business start ups.
We have partnered with two incredible organisations; ethical textile producer Tosheka and fair-paying garment factory SOKO Kenya to create this ‘farm to fabric’ supply chain - focusing on complete transparency and producing high quality, slow fashion garments while ensuring the highest standards for workers are met.
In the last four years, human rights violations within clothing supply chains - such as forced labour, modern slavery and child labour - have increased. Famous brands like H&M have even been linked to labour abuses as recently as 2020.
And even now some 80% of apparel companies still lack supply chain transparency, which is simply not right. This appears to be a disappointing trend at a time when, according to a Valassis 2021 report, ‘54% of consumers said they are more likely to be loyal to a brand that shares its efforts to be environmentally responsible or has sustainable/ethical business practices.’
By partnering with these inspiring businesses in Kenya to create a supply chain where nobody suffers, we want to show how fashion can provide opportunity rather than perpetuate the poverty trap.
We wanted to create something we could truly be proud of and two years of hard work and due diligence has led to what we truly believe is a completely ethical supply chain that we can celebrate.
The new shirts will be made from unbleached rainfed cotton, which has a reduced environmental footprint and promotes safer work and better livelihoods.
This cotton will then be spun and weaved into beautiful fabric by wonderful small business Tosheka, based in Wote, and run by inspiring female founder Lucy Lau-Bingham.
Kenyan-born Lucy has spent her career campaigning for fair pay for cotton farmers and is passionate about keeping the skill of hand looming alive and creating eco-friendly fabrics. Lucy said,
“I am really happy to work with Origin because they are willing to share their own profits with us, to give back one third to us, I’ve never seen anyone like that... that just makes me feel like crying. It’s incredible.”
The new garments will then be made by SOKO Kenya, a small factory nestled among the mango trees in the village of Kikambala, north of Mombasa. Unlike most fashion houses in developing countries, SOKO pays above the living wage, offers maternity and paternity leave, and ensures a working week of no longer than 42 hours. SOKO also helps the wider community through skills training, academy scholarships to gain employment and health education.
As Orsola de Castro, Co-Founder of Fashion Revolution, recently explained, “‘Who made my clothes?’ is a question that very few people can answer,” and yet “you cannot talk about safeguarding the planet without talking about safeguarding its people. Garment workers cannot be left behind”.
This month is the first of our ORIGINal Thinkers series, where we’ll be sharing people and projects around the world who inspire us. To kick off this series, we have caught up with Leo Thom, creative director of the amazing The Mangrove Action Project.
]]>To kick off this series, we have caught up with Leo Thom, creative director of the amazing The Mangrove Action Project.
Leo is currently on the island of Koh Klang in Southern Thailand capturing the story of how coastal people are changing their relationship with stingless bees…
Hey! I work for The Mangrove Action Project which is all about preserving and restoring the world’s mangrove forests through training and educational programs.
Mangroves are totally undervalued ecosystems! Living between land and sea have huge potential to fix our climate.
Mangroves store far more carbon than inland rainforests, help to enhance the world’s biodiversity by acting as nurseries for marine life and are home to many species of land mammals and migrating birds.
They also provide numerous benefits to local people including protection from tsunamis and storms, as well as a plentiful food source.
Sadly, they are considered by many as unimportant wastelands and continue to be cleared in many places, which is why we want to raise awareness of their importance.
At least half of all mangrove forests in Thailand have been destroyed, leading to many negative impacts to the coastal environment and people.
As sea levels continue to rise with an increase in extreme weather events, coastal communities have become extremely vulnerable.
I’ve just completed an MA in Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE Bristol, in association with the BBC’s Natural History Unit, with a view to becoming a self shooting director of natural history films.
My aim is to combine my love of mangroves with these new filmmaking skills. I’m currently developing a series of character led mangrove films around the tropics to raise awareness - starting with a film about stingless bees in Thailand.
Living with Bees will shine a light on an incredible connection one village has developed with pollinators, as we follow one woman’s journey of discovery; that introducing bees into the mangroves could be the key to saving her and her village.
Stingless bees are one of the biggest pollinators of mangrove forests and people are adapting their lives so that they can harvest valuable honey and the bees can help enhance the environment.
There is one village community who are reinventing their relationship with mangroves and have taken up beekeeping as a way to save their remaining forests and restore the ones that have been lost.
Since 2009, the village of Nai Nang have been conserving their mangroves and combining working with bees to help pollinate their forests.
For them, the bees have become crucial in keeping Nai Nang’s mangroves thriving and provides a sustainable income, while the project conserves a number of endemic and native bee species, in the fight for biodiversity.
The community-led project has been so successful, they are now training other coastal communities so that they can also start earning an income while protecting the environment.
This mutual and harmonious relationship between people, bees and mangroves, has become a positive nature-based conservation solution and the project aims to spread this model so that more villages along Southern Thailand can thrive with nature.
You can find out more Living With Bees and support the project here.
]]>Do you remember Andre Kone? If not, check out our original blog on him.
He is the founder and director of Yerekalanbarani (E-Literacy), the product business which remotely tutors adults and children to read and write in Bambara. It is a cost effective tablet that Mr Kone designed himself having taught himself on youtube without a background in tech.
When describing it, his passion comes across oozing confidence and determination. He was inspired to do this having spent years working with people who were restricted by their inability to read and write in Mali. He then committed 5 years to learning and developing the product. Then he sought investment and launched his business and, one year later, his business is gaining traction!
He is renting a premises in Bamako and from there, has secured profit in his first year of business! Not only this, he has secured a contract with a US firm for the translation of a Hollywood film into Bambara and is in negotiations with Plan International to produce a large number of Yerekalanbarani products in the coming months.
In a country in which politicians have created an environment which does not prioritise important growth opportunity like access to capital investment, Andre has gone elsewhere, has united with Origin and carved his own path.
As true as the day he inspired the Origin team to give him his first cash donation, Andre pursues his goals with dedication and confidence. It is paying off and we are very pleased to publish this update to the people who made this happen - you! All the customers who have bought Origin clothing have fuelled the engine which allowed this cash donation and that cash donation has catalysed an inspiring entrepreneur to develop this product which is changing lives in Mali.
Congratulations to Andre and we wish him well as he continues!
Thank you to all the people out there wearing Origin clothing, wear it in the confidence that you have created opportunity!
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And this week we are delighted to announce that Origin has donated £1000 to her work as leader of Women's Initiative Gambia.
The project is fighting for women in Gambia to be able to access equal opportunities in life and business.
We spoke to her this week to coordinate the cash transfer and organise when we will next see one another:
Isatou told us: "The money you are sending, I definitely want to use it as a seed money, to make it grow.
"I will start to use it as a microcredit: create a loan scheme for our women to start small businesses. I am looking forward to working with you on this to get the most out of work together."
We are honoured to work with this female leader and can't wait to see what she will achieve with the funding.
"Women’s Initiative Gambia helps financially poor women in The Gambia to improve their skills and income so as to raise the standard of living of their families and their communities."
To learn more about the project visit their website.
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Every now and again, you come across someone you absolutely have to work with and get to know better over the years. They inspire you in a way that you can't always put in words. Who does this make you think of? Great, send them a message of positivity now because maybe they don't hear it often enough.
We just messaged Isatou Ceesay of Women's Initiative Gambia (WIG). She is a leader, an entrepreneur, a mother, an author, an environmentalist and, now a wonderful friend of ours.
She set up WIG to fight historical (and very much ongoing) inequality for women's access to opportunity in The Gambia. She stands for some of the world's most important topics of our time and founded WIG as an absolute hub for positive change.
WIG works with financially poor women to find ways for them to improve their and their families' standards of living. There is a clear focus on environmental education within their projects too - creating market gardens, encouraging the cultivation of indigenous plants and trees, reducing plastic use and contributing to recycling across the country.
She has a message for women out there:
"There are millions of young girls and women out there who have dropped out of their careers in life. To them I say, do not let the hurdles define your life. Look around you and try another approach, and keep trying and you will find one that works for you. Believe in yourself and believe in what you want in life, and go for it. Be prepared to persevere in the face of adversity and success will be yours."
For more information on WIG, Isatou or her rising inspirational son Modou Lamin, please contact us or look them up here,
Best Wishes,
The Origin Team
]]>So, here is our guide to some lovely businesses where you can shop for your gifts this Christmas, knowing the money you spend is contributing to something positive in the world 🌍💚 and we think thats worth shouting about...
This hat collection is an initiative by South African brand Asha Eleven to empower those affected by a lack of income due to the pandemic. Hand made by women in the Imizamo Yethu Township in Hout Bay, Cape Town. 100% of the profits go directly to them.
The Wood Life Project makes wooden products for the family home, which are manufactured in the UK using British wood. They employ prisoners to hand-finish the products and support charitable causes, too.
Refuge Chocolate are makers of do-good food; specialising in delicious chocolatey goodies. Their freedom flighting chocolate is in the business of ending slavery. Refuge exists to support survivors of human trafficking.
As well as being made using recycled silver, all of this beautiful collection is also handmade in the UK by Katherine in her North Devon workshop.
100% of profits from the sales of these studs will be donated to Young Lives V Cancer (formally Clic Sargent) . A charity helping families find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them. From day to day support to financial help.
Crafted by Congolese refugees living in Kenya, the skilful freehand carving technique they use is passed from one generation to the next. The Jacaranda wood is locally and sustainably sourced and takes the shape of a dove, symbolizing peace. MADE51 is brought to life by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
Good Candles is trying to change a £2billion candle industry and give 10% of all sales to charity and good causes. Premium candles, beautifully illustrated packaging, and hand-poured in Kent... setting fire to money never felt so good!
Yala is an award-winning African jewellery brand designed for the modern woman and the very first jewellery company in the UK to become a Certified B Corporation.
Founder, Audrey works directly with over 150 artisans in Kenya, ensuring they receive fair wages, safe and healthy work environments, and real recognition for their talent. She is passionate about ensuring true transparency across the production process, and a genuine connection between the people who created Yala jewellery and their customers.
The mission of this delicious chocolate brand is to offer confidence and hope to young people with autism by providing employment and free training.
With award-winning flavours and positive social change, you have to check out the brilliant family behind this social enterprise.
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Based in Bamako, Mali, he has created a kit for remote learning to read and write. His cost-effective 'auto-literacy' kit can be purchased at an affordable price for both adults and children wishing to learn to read and write. His entrepreneurship is inspiring and his business is ready to go, but for one or two obstacles.
He launches today with a brand new training facility showcasing and selling his new e-literacy tools in Bamako. His vision is to take people from illiteracy to employing them translating and subtitling documents and movies from 'developed' countries. The benefits are so many and they're all built into his social business plan.
His business this week employs 6 people in its first phase and he hopes that within one year, we can expand to 40 people working in the literacy training centre providing both on site and remote learning opportunities, not to mention 40 good jobs in sales, accounting, education, marketing, strategy and management. We are ecstatic to share that he is now a colleague of Origin's and we are committed to facilitating his overcoming those obstacles.
Good luck Andre!
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The history and opinions around poverty alleviation are as diverse as the cultural traditions of the communities effected. These are topics that are central to Origin's work and to Origin's difference from a lot of coexisting work in similar sectors.
Our beginnings come from RESPECT for the people to whom we are hoping to offer a service. The service is an opportunity to escape from poverty in a financially and socially sustainable way. Of course we maintain the highest possible environmental methods as well but we believe those three branches of the evermore quoted word 'sustainability' cannot exist mutually exclusively.
So, why look for evidence and not just go and do what you think is probably right? There are many people living in abject poverty finding better solutions with far fewer resources than our global northern selves ever would. They inspire with their drive and charisma. How would organisations know any more what individuals living in poverty may require than they do themselves? Well, they don't.
We ask. We discuss. We sit down and listen and chat over whatever drink she or he see most fit wherever is most fitting. And we LEARN. To better bridge the gap of cross-cultural working and communication (and this is far more than language), we are in the process of appointing Africa-based Hub Directors to oversee our methods and our madness in Origin's poverty alleviation efforts. So, no we don't know the silver bullet for poverty alleviation yet and, no doubt, there won't be a one size fits all opportunity on this one but we can explore and look for the available opportunities to make this difference for real individuals' futures.
What next? We look at the EVIDENCE. What has worked, where, how, with whom? This is the application of statistical significance to poverty alleviation and social impact methods, quantitative as well as qualitative (don't miss the fine details). A working knowledge of this is the least we can do.
So... Origin's methods are not a hunch. They are the product of countless hours of attention to the opinions of those it serves and countless more researching the available information for the ways in which its work can be performed. Basically, this is because Origin cares deeply about the outcome for the individuals we are working alongside.
Our current most employed methods are in cash donations to social business entrepreneurs, most often linked to already existing women's groups, installing savings initiatives (extreme poverty's method for disaster insurance) and alongside training initiatives. Admittedly a very brief summary...
We don't keep this to ourselves, we want more people to be engaging with the process of poverty alleviation in a respectful way so, if you have questions, advice, contributions or want to start your own thing, get in touch with us! You'd be joining a very supportive and inspired community. Alternatively, buy and enjoy our clothing & give us the strength to keep working towards this goal of preventing people from suffering in the trap of true poverty. Buying our clothing genuinely allows us to continue this journey and exist at the forefront of evidence based poverty alleviation.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you
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Two years we met and began working with the wonderful Gambia Cotton Trail who are an organisation dedicated to reviving the fair trade of handwoven cotton in The Gambia.
At the end of 2019 we invested £2,000 (funds generated by your generous purchases) to help support their work. Cotton used to be a major part of The Gambian economy, not only supplying jobs to the agriculture sector but also employing weavers, tailors and retail merchants. In the 1990s, the way in which cotton was traded changed. And instead of being valued at a fixed price per ton, its price became negotiable, meaning that The Gambia could not compete with bigger more mechanised production. Over time, the cotton industry died out and today only a small fraction of its previous production is achieved. Still, many farmers know the skill of cultivating cotton. And in many ethnic groups, cotton has been part of their culture and tradition through generations.
The funds donated were put towards a borehole for a farming village which would allow the community to create two crops of cotton per year, one during rainy season and one during dry season. Supporting farming also helps to create jobs and the borehole has the added benefit of providing clean, safe drinking water for the community all year round.
Due to Covid, this project had been long delayed and despite digging beginning in 2020 the running water was still eluding us by the start of 2021.
This week however, we have had the incredible news that the water is finally flowing. This video brought me to tears and I hope it shows you all what can be achieved with persistence and determination... And the support of a few wonderful people buying ethical clothing 🌍💙💦
]]>For these tees we are incredibly proud and excited to be working with one of few suppliers in the industry sourcing organic made in Africa products. The entire supply chain is completely transparent, from the organic cotton from Tanzanian farm groups to the production completed under one roof in the fully vertical factory in Arusha, Tanzania.
Sustainability and equality is at the heart of this African supply chain. The cotton is sourced from Biosustain, a Tanzanian organisation dedicated to supporting farmers and their businesses at a local level. All their cotton is rain fed, which means they save water compared with regions that use irrigation. Transport from farm to ginnery is by ox and cart saving on carbon emitted by trucks used in other countries and all the water used in the manufacturing process is cleaned so its free of any dyes or chemicals that could damage the eco-system.
The factory itself, Sunflag, works closely with the FairWear Foundation and they have welfare programs in place for workers that include housing, subsidised meals, transportation, insurance, medical care, education and health awareness. Perhaps most importantly, everyone has a voice and is actively involved in the workers unions, and maternity, bereavement and sick pay are all guaranteed.
So, now you know a bit more about the story behind the products we are about to release. And you know that just like our suppliers, when we say ‘Made in Africa’, we say it with love and pride. ❤️🌍
]]>Origin was put together to create a method for reversing the inequalities that lie between people in different parts of this world we share. Africa was chosen because it is profoundly interesting, people are community led and inherently care for one another, and it is the modern world's biggest centre of poverty, by miles. Working in various countries and studying health systems as well as global health inequalities, a path was set to discover the different incumbent environments for opportunity, for having control over one's access to autonomy, financial freedom and being able to provide for one's family. There is still enormous disparity in a supposedly developed world.
Cross cultural working is a journey, and perhaps it's one that doesn't yet have a clear destination but, as yet, just a best effort to offer and receive a mutual respect without hierarchy or coercive control. True mutual respect and an effort to learn and grow is currently what we have.
Origin was established to try to find a way to generate funds that could be put to work in the best available methods, to combat a history of distorted markets and financial flows. We don't pretend to have it designed perfectly but we work towards finding the best available solutions. Thus far, one such technique for finding the best methods is the evidence based learning used in modern medicine, brought to fruition in randomised controlled trials & systematic reviews. In terms of real helpful impact for the people we are trying to work with, the evidence thus far has revealed some crucial steps and techniques: To offer cash donations (not repayable investments) to social business entrepreneurs linked to training initiatives ideally connected to micro-savings initiatives (particularly within women's groups, let's face it, they usually know best!) launched, directed and monitored entirely locally. Micro-savings, when you sit and listen in to group's discussing this, are powerful tools of insurance in places where banks won't lend money, the community is self-governed to ensure the most fair outcome for all and sudden events that could change lives are unfortunately more frequent. They mitigate against risk and are associated with greater security as well as providing a pot of funds for potential investment when an entrepreneur sparks a good idea.
In the last year, at Origin HQ (two directors and a board of trusty advisors) we have been debating the best way forward and asking ourselves 'are we truly doing this in a responsible way?' For this reason, we are constantly listening and learning. It is a productive debate to have and one that, if you're reading this, you probably care very much about too. One of our recent changes has been to begin to employ Origin Hub Directors. These are our friends and colleagues in the relevant African countries who direct our work locally. They do not run the businesses invested in, nor do they prescribe business principals. They find, highlight and work with prospective business leaders to find the best ways forward. They are local so they know the lay of the land far better than we ever will from the UK, and that lay of the land is far more profound than language and tradition. It is the day to day approaches to work, home, family, culture and many more intangible principals that, without their due acknowledgement, prevent a true respect and cross-cultural working relationship from developing. After all, who's to say the western way of conducting business is the right way? There are more changes to come and Origin, while still small, will stay dynamic in its journey.
So, engage with us, offer us constructive feedback and let's work together to find the best available ways to allow inspiring people from disadvantaged communities access to opportunities and freedom for growth, and to live a life free from suffering, financial distortion and marginalisation. Everyone deserves their chance to achieve so let's get opportunities to those who have the ideas, the creativity, the resourcefulness and methods already ready to go.
So far this year, the sale of Origin garments has allowed us to create over 40 jobs and enabled us to support initiatives which impact thousands of lives through the donation of
Q: Tessy, you are involved in a lot of different causes and do some incredible things but one thing people may be surprised to learn about you - could you tell us a little about your time in the military and what that was like as a woman?
A: It was a path creator for me. It paved the path that I’m walking today. In the military I learned a lot about how men and women compliment each other. I met incredible men who support women amazingly, but also met some men that showed why peacekeeping at the UN is under fire for sexual assault... I was so young and the only woman in my draft with a lot of men, but it was the right time. It was the moment I was deciding what should I do next? It showed me my weaknesses and my strengths and I learned how a policy paper translates on the ground and it showed me how grateful I should be for the life I have in Luxembourg, compared to women in war zones. It humbled me and made me realise my unearned privilege to be from Luxembourg and what that means and how I can use my experience there to make the world a better place for women without the same opportunities. I believe there should be more women in the forces because they have some excellent skills and we need that balance.
Q: In 2017 you were awarded ‘Woman of the Decade’ from the Women Economic Forum for your work in female empowerment (a huge congratulations!) - what type of work were you doing to receive such an accolade?
A: It was mostly for my work in the educational space. In 2017 Professors without Borders was 18-months old and I was working in Sierra Leone but the charity was expanding and entering places like Thailand. It was also for my work in the military and being the only woman - it combined a lot of things and my work at VICE media as Director. I think it was the boldness I represented at the time, including my work in India - culminating in working for equalling the odds for my fellow sisters and that’s been reflected in everything I do.
Q: Growing up, did you have a female icon and is there anyone you look up to now?
A: Hmmm, of course when I grew up I always watched the news, I always watched politics and knew all their names by the age of 6. As such, female leaders in Luxembourg and the ones around me all inspired me - I wouldn’t say there was 1 alone when I was a child because I was already a serial entrepreneur and I needed the stimulation of many people to form a holistic approach and not just one person’s voice. My inspiration came from a few channels, the news, my friends, my Mum and that is who inspired me then. It was men and women though that inspired me. Right now, there are a few women that inspire me. One is Melinda Gates - how she has used her name to make a difference in her own right. Also Ellen Degeneres is amazing. She makes a big difference to a lot of people and I like that she just goes for it and doesn’t care what people think. Jacinda in New Zealand embodies leadership - she is elegant and feminine while being a strong leader and she didn’t compromise her identity or mould herself to fit in that environment. Also shout out to RBG - she was incredible.
Q: You’ve recently launched a sustainable fashion brand (another congratulations) - obviously at Origin we’re using the sale of sustainable clothing to fund community-owned projects in Africa and directly helping women upskill themselves and lift themselves out of poverty. How do you think fashion can be a force for good and do you have any thoughts on Origin’s approach?
A: I think people are judged by the way they dress. Fashion is such a messenger - it shows culture, mood, so many things about a person's personality. One should never judge a book by its cover but the first impression comes in how you look. Fashion is such a tool to empower because you can express so many things without words. What we and Origin are doing, is empowering women from the start of creation - manufacturing - to the sale. Organic materials, we know where it all comes from - it’s about bringing back the beauty of the craft of making something. Nowadays, everything is just so fast and fashion is the same. Cheap brands just want to accommodate 10 seasons a year (even though we only have 4) and it’s such a waste. People don’t invest into something good and will remain for years but rather that constant change because that’s what society has taught us. Politics, social media etc. It’s a hamster wheel. Fashion can create a sense of belonging. What Origin is doing and what we’re trying to do is make people realise it’s better to buy something that will last, you know where it’s come from and it’s OK to wear it next season too!
Q: We’ve been asking all of our incredible female leaders and I’d love to know your thoughts on this. 2020 has been a crazy year - for those of us and especially any women reading this and looking to a better 2021 - what advice would you give them and what are you hoping for, for next year?
A: 2020 was the year of the phoenix. There were a lot of bad things, the economy is struggling, people are scared and lonely, people are stuck indoors, families are separated, it has been hard. I lost some people that were close to me BUT in looking at all of that. I still see the signs of the phoenix. There have been so many new discussions, politicians have been forced to address the problem and look at the community. The pandemic has exposed bad practice, consumerism way over the top, exposing the domains that are not needed anymore. People are now thinking, maybe we can do things differently and maybe there are more important things that matter to us. Cooperation, innovation has been birthed in what happened. We’re asking ourselves - what am I doing, what do I want? Communities have come together through this and countries have come together too. People are thinking about what they have and how they can use it for the better. For 2021 - how can we take these learnings. How do we fix society, what do I want to do to upskill myself and contribute. There are so many courses online now that if you really want to - you can reinvent yourself - make your stand, play a significant part in society. 2021 is a year of renewal - the biggest inspirations happen in times like these. The ground is the most fertile after a fire - the question is what will your next move be?
The Seamstress School is back up and running now that Covid rules have been relaxed in Bamako. Alain and his team at Ki-Training, Bamako, have a new premises and reconditioned machines to restart post-covid with an optimistic view of things to come for these women and their journey in fashion, seamstress skills and business.
Here are some photos of the day to day activities at Ki-Training taken this week.
Soon we will be releasing some stories of the women and their perspective on training and finding jobs in Bamako in the current climate.
All of these photos were taken with full consent of those in them and in full knowledge of their intent of use.
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Q: Mandy, the work you do around the world for women’s rights and female empowerment is incredible and I’ll let you tell us a little about that next, but I wanted to ask you about what it was like for you growing up. Was your environment helpful for you as a woman to progress and achieve, did you have any barriers to overcome?
A: Being a woman from Asian descent., there are so many cultural norms that young women are conditioned to accept within the community. Personally I felt a little free-spirited and and just felt a little different. Instead of being ashamed of this, I embraced it and got confidence from it. As I was growing up I witnessed domestic violence, child marriages and honour violence and I knew it was wrong at the time and I called it out from an early age as I do now. I couldn’t watch injustices against women in my community and I found my voice as a young person and being the change I wanted to see. I’ve been continuing that ever since and am now trying to amplify those voices like mine in the same communities I grew up in.
Q: So now you are a keynote speaker for the Women Freedom Forum - that has a great name, could you tell us a little about it? What is it trying to achieve?
A: Yes so it’s an organisation consisting of a group of women based in Iran that want to address social injustices against women specifically. WFF’s aim is to raise public awareness on issues relating to women’s equality, legal and human rights, political participation and empowerment. It works to uplift the voices of marginalised women in the Middle East and place them into mainstream public discourse in order to create greater knowledge and understanding about particular issues and to ensure that their voices are heard.
Q: You’ve been working incredibly hard for the past 31 years to empower young women and girls to aspire and achieve. Have you noticed any changes or shifts in attitudes during this time and how does the future of female empowerment look to you?
A: Things have changed. People are becoming more tolerant and understanding of social issues but there are still structural inequalities around pay, gender-based violence and other inequalities that have come to the surface during lockdown particularly. For me, the future of female empowerment is about making sure the right people are elevated to positions of leadership and having a rightful seat at the table. We need to tackle today’s stereotypes, lift them off the sticky floor and get them into the room. We need to smash the glass ceiling and pull up those around us to be the future change-makers.
Q: What is your proudest achievement to date?
A: It sounds so cliche but I have so many I’m proud of. I think though, speaking at the US House of Representatives - the most powerful house in the world and being able to talk about my work to the Senate and elected members and share my knowledge to become a global voice - makes me feel blessed that I followed my passion and have established a voice for others. Being asked to come back time again is an honour as well as it shows I’m respected and that people are ready to hear the change that needs to happen.
Q: Finally, we’ve been asking all of our inspiring leaders but I’d like to know from you, 2020 has been a crazy year. Looking ahead to Christmas and 2021 - do you have any advice or inspiring words for us as we look to next year?
A: I turned 50 this year and I had a lot of plans! Through lockdown though I didn’t stop doing what I needed doing - I would say use this time as an opportunity to upskill ourselves, develop our skills and take the time to develop our knowledge on subjects we don’t know. I’ve reflected on my carbon footprint and have connected with people virtually and showing people how to adapt to the ‘new normal’. We can still work on a cause, still engage with people - it might not be face to face but remotely can still have a massive impact.
We'd like to thank Mandy for her time and insight and we hope you have enjoyed today's instalment of featured inspirational women. Keep an eye out next week for our next female leader, awarded 'Woman of the Decade' in 2017.
This series is celebrating the launch of our Brave Woman t-shirt. You can get yours here!
Q: Shelley, thank you for agreeing to be featured as part of our All is Bright campaign - the work you do around female empowerment and gender equality is incredible and The Female Quotient is such a powerful initiative. For our followers in the UK who may not know what the organisation does, could you tell us in your own words what you’re working on?
A: The Female Quotient says when you add women to any equation, you get a return on equality. We advance women to advance equality. We’re curating the largest collection of women in the workplace and conscious consulting, helping companies to become equality-fit and curating content for education and awareness which will ultimately lead to action and impact. Our ultimate goal is closing the gap.
Q: When you were younger, was there anything that you remember lighting the fuse or flicking the switch of your career in female empowerment? What inspired you to become such a leader in this particular field?
A: It was not intentional. It happened by accident, we went from a moment to a movement pretty much overnight. I was the only female CEO in my field, I knew I acted differently but my perception was that I needed to conform to the leadership style of those ahead of me (men) but those rules didn't work for me - being a Mom and a CEO. I got the name 'trouble maker’ - I broke the rules to bring my true self to the table. I realised I didn’t want to be the exception to the rule, I wanted that to be the norm for women in business. I had to follow my heart and this is where It took me. I needed to own my truth and how I wanted to lead my life while hopefully making a difference for others who follow. Subconsciously, I guess I was impacted by my Mom. She created the first conference for Women in the state of California, bringing them together to share and unlock opportunities. Now I look back and think wow, I didn’t realise that affected me so much but now look.
Q: If there’s a woman reading this somewhere in the world right now and perhaps they’ve recognised some type of injustice toward them or their friends or colleagues - how would you advise them?
A: There are a lot of barriers right now, people say ‘unconscious’ bias - but I disagree - people are conscious. I say to women, be you, recognise your strength, stand up and stand together and have that confidence in who you are. If you don’t believe in you, no one else will. Also, we all have a voice in our head - an impostor syndrome - both men and women have it but most men ignore it while for women it often becomes louder. Shut that bitch up and push her to the side.
Q: Origin’s All is Bright campaign is shining a light on iconic women, hence your invitation to speak with us today. We’d love to know, did you have a female icon growing up and who do you look up to now?
A: I look up to all women that pay it forward to others and give back with generosity. For me, I pay it forward because I want to give back what I wish I had as a younger woman rising the ranks. I look up to women who understand the power of the pack, how we’re stronger together and for me there are so many. I have such a powerful community of women who I know will be there for me. I have to say too, growing up obviously my Mom. She’s the anchor in my life and taught me that confidence is beautiful.
Q: Finally, we know 2020 has been a crazy year. Our campaign is hoping to inject some much-needed positivity this season. As we look towards the Christmas period and 2021 - what are you hoping for, for next year and do you have any words of wisdom for us?
A: I hope that everyone stuffs their stocking with hope and gratitude and that we pivot with positivity to create a better and more equitable future. That requires intentionality and choice. When purpose meets passion you’re unstoppable. We’re unstoppable as long as we do it together.
We'd like to thank Shelley and her team for their time and support and we hope you finished this feature feeling as inspired as we do! Up next we have a keynote speaker for the United Nations and a true champion for women's rights around the globe that you'll not want to miss. Released in 7 days...
This series is celebrating the launch of our Brave Woman t-shirt. You can get yours here!
These Eco Stoves will consume less than a third of the firewood previously required for cooking in traditional Gambian households.
He has also designed templates to produce clay bricks for construction as well.
With exactly half of his team female, Musa is a true believer in women being the drivers of business development and entrepreneurship. He is determined to provide good jobs and with it, establish women's groups for co-learning opportunities within the tasks and skills of the business as well as a finance cooperative.
During difficult times, this creation of good jobs and financial security for those previously unemployed represents a real opportunity for these guys.
He is an inspiring man to speak to and the Origin team wishes him and his team the best of luck in this new social business venture!
Don't forget your purchase of Origin's clothing made this happen. Shop now to keep it happening : )
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Q: Tessy, growing up you lived in a few European countries for the first part of your life before moving to Nigeria for University and are now the proud CEO of a national youth charity in the UK, sit on more advisory boards than I can count and were recently awarded a CBE (huge congratulations). When you were young, did you always imagine yourself as a leader?
A: Growing up, my parents taught us the value of leading without a title. It was the principle of if you see something that needed doing, just do it. Don’t wait on someone else to fix it. This was pretty much the principle that underpinned my childhood. When you have a diplomat father and a mother who is a headteacher, you’re often drafted in to support one cause or the other, so leading or giving back in any capacity was the norm in our household. I remember at 14 when we first moved to Nigeria, my Mum drafted me in to lead on various children’s clubs in her school. I was running a reading club, dancing club, all after school, so being a leader was very much a part of my upbringing.
Q: Origin’s All is Bright campaign is celebrating female empowerment and leadership. Do you have a female icon or is there anyone you look up to now?
A: I do, this is a great question. At the start of Black History Month I was asked who are my female icons. Initially I thought I’m inspired by women who break moulds, who show incredible strength. It didn’t have to be loud strength - just women who have purpose and use that for good. I will name 3: firstly, Rosa Parks - her strength inspired me. She saw a need and demonstrated her strength and paved the way for generations to come. Next is Oprah Winfrey, purely because growing up in Europe, I barely saw anyone like me on TV. Oprah made me visible. Watching her on telly allowed me to feel visible and made me realise that impossible is nothing and seeing Oprah day in day out helped me see that. My third is absolutely Michelle Obama. She demonstrates leadership with integrity, authenticity and with grace. To me, she shows the balance between leading with a title yet remaining authentic to who you are. I loved seeing how she brought fun to her role, even as the First Lady. She was unafraid to do things different and that really inspires me. Like going on TV and dancing!! PS: She might have inspired me to go on TikTok!
Q: Can you tell us a little about what you do as CEO and how you are helping shape the next generation of female leaders?
A: As Chief Exec it is a privilege to represent The Diana Award - a charity to support young people and help them thrive. Our work helps build resilience, creates opportunities for them to thrive irrespective of background. Unfortunately, statistics in the UK still shows that a child’s opportunity to thrive is tied to their parent’s status and that is just not good enough. We also work to nurture young people and shape future leaders - we work with all young people giving them a voice to lead and redefine their own society. Personally, a few years ago I made a commitment that I would mentor 5 young females, at any level of their career and work with them for a year. I know as a female, a mother, a wife - how easy it is for women to check out because of their struggles. I want to share my own experiences and show them how they can be the best person they can.
Q: Reading the news recently there are awful reports coming out of Nigeria around the ENDSARS campaign. At Origin we keep a keen eye on issues like this in Africa and we try to help out and raise awareness where we can. Is there anything you think people can do to help the situation in Nigeria or any organisations to support?
A: I spent a few years in Nigeria and left unaware of the level of police brutality and the special forces that were created. Like everyone else, I saw the uprising on socials and this is a country I have a huge affinity with - the country of my parents’ birth. I do want to say that firstly, I was incredibly proud to see young people in Nigeria rising up and saying no and staying true to the cause. It was so powerful to see the public join and protest but I couldn’t believe seeing the horrendous news of the massacre of young protesters. My hope is that the Government will be tried - this is a dip in justice against humanity. Any country that kills its young because they want change has no future. This applies to any country across the world. The young are the leaders of tomorrow. I hope Governments across the world take note. There are a number of organisations that people should support. I have outlined them below:
Hope Builders
TechHer
Enough Is Enough
Q: Finally, to end on a positive note, 2020 has been crazy but there are reasons to be positive and optimistic, like the wonderful young people you work with and the positive change in our society. I know you love a good African proverb - do you have an inspiring message for our followers as we look to Christmas and a better 2021?
A: I would love to say something about hope. In everything, we must always find reasons to be grateful. Hope is the one thing that keeps us going. What is life without hope. The fact that we are here, we live in this moment is a reason to be hopeful. One of my favourite songs is Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen. He wrote it when he was in the middle of so much despair, not too dissimilar to how people feel now - so much going on around us. What he needed to do to maintain his own sanity was to take a step out of his mind for one moment, throw his hands up in the air and just be grateful for whatever he could see with his own eyes. He captured that moment and called it Hallelujah. Even in the midst of so much despair, we all need a moment to step away, step back and just look. Be grateful that we are here, we have breath, we have food to eat, we have shoes on our feet - basic things that some others do not. If we can all find that moment, that will get us through.
A huge thank you Tessy for your time and your candour. I hope you all enjoyed reading her words as much as we did listening to them. Up next we have another CEO and founder of a global movement to connect female leaders and empower women to thrive. Stay tuned for our next inspirational woman, coming soon.
This series is celebrating the launch of our Brave Woman t-shirt. You can get yours here!
Ringing the charismatic tones of our much loved Nigerian board member Olatunde Olotu, 'it is multifactorial'. There is of course no one size fits all approach to alleviating poverty, but there are a great many lessons to be learned from the people that we work with and their prior experiences. What's more, the Origin team is committed to a process of lifelong learning on this crucial subject. The latest available research points to a number of principals which has paved the way for Origin's efforts in Africa:
Entrepreneurial at a grassroots level i.e. bottom up rather than the old-fashioned top down. Local leaders are in charge. The concept and execution is their idea and their responsibility. Each leader also leads her/his social business under the principles: to put people before profit, and ensure social impact is always talked about and implemented to highly transparent and honest standards. Musa Darbo, in Gambia, is committed to establishing women's initiatives alongside his eco clay stove business. This ensures a type of insurance policy for the women working for and with his business. This is one of the modern day's methods for a poverty-stricken household to account for future disasters but also to build up capital for investments for potential future bright ideas. For more, Esther Duflo and Agidjit Banerjee explain this in far more eloquent and substantial detail in their evidence based approach to poverty as explained in 'Poverty Economics'. Musa and his social business embody opportunity with respect to this latest evidence.
These are social businesses, not sink funds for 'aid' budgets. Each one must also be environmentally responsible. This involves creating good jobs lead by self starting entrepreneurs. Jean-Yves Yonli, director of Nogo Tala Sania (Zero Waste Hygiene, Bambara), in Mali, has installed at the core of his business to remain as close to zero waste that he can achieve with his Sustainable Soap Social Business, Nogo Tala Sania. His surplus produce from his soap making production gets balled up and donated to marginalised members of society in the capital Bamako. This includes disabled individuals, unemployed people looking for work and the elderly struggling to sustain their families.
The goal is locally driven but justifiably needs-based. It must focus on the cost-effectiveness of the designed intervention of the business. This is defined and carried out by the local champions who drive the business to its success. Jean-Yves set about to establish good jobs for women in his community. The latest update on this confirms he has employed 31 extra people this year and each of them is happy with the opportunities afforded to them by this business.
This is not about Origin dictating what the money is spent on. This is about consulting the community as a whole, identifying inspiring entrepreneurs and donating them the capital to drive their project forward and create opportunity. N. Timolean. Amessa, leading African author on African development, comprehensively explains in his work (and indeed in person as we have been privileged enough to have advice directly from him) that development cannot be embarked upon without an in depth consideration for the cultural aspects of the work and development being done. It is not up to Europeans or Americans (nor Chinese but let's not start that one today) to define how Africa should develop. This should be African lead and this remains at the forefront of our efforts at Origin. In his report of Origin's approach, he explains, 'By providing locals in African communities with funds to invest in business activities of their choice to create jobs for themselves and others, Origin is helping solve this lack of access to capital which is a most common and unnoticed problem facing young entrepreneurs on the whole African Continent.'
Cultural Appreciation: Nothing can be changed without an in-depth knowledge and respect for the local, tribal, national and regional culture. For this reason and for the basic reason of respect, Origin puts huge emphasis on the local people being the leaders of change. They know the lie of the land, the market for their business, the cultural aspects important to every facet of professional as well as personal life and after all, they are the entrepreneurs capable of sustaining the change. Take again Jean-Yves of Nogo Tala Sania. He had set up a small soap business which was doing well. He had seen the necessity for its creation and used his own savings to buy the first machines, pay for rental premises in Bamako and had employed one woman and one man to help him get it started. On a background of humanitarian work, anthropology survey work with NGOs and education, he decided the way for communities in West Africa to take back control of their destiny was to create their own engines for long term lasting change: businesses that have at their core a social impact. All he lacked was capital to increase the scale of his business. In February 2020, Origin donated £850 to him for this with the intention of potentially offering a further cash grant (in 2021) if sustainable good jobs had been created and the business did well on its social impacts, as well as remaining financially sustainable. This also relies on Origin's clothing sales too of course. This year, Jean-Yves' business has gone from strength to strength and now sustains 31 new employees (25 of which are women who were previously unemployed who are themselves thriving), and supplies affordable soaps to over 1000 people every month. Could this method be one of the silver bullet methods to pierce the shackles of the poverty trap? We hope so but we continually seek the evidence.
So, at Origin, we give cash grants to established entrepreneurs alongside training initiatives, encouraging where possible linked microfinance and microsavings institutions as well. For more information on this and the evidence for this, one of the most robustly evidence-supported methods of poverty alleviation, 'Tracing the Consequences of Child Poverty' is an excellent example of how information can be used as evidence to support our organisation's methods. We were also lucky enough to be able to seek advice from one of the lead authors on this book, Paul Dornan, explaining the Young Lives study of 12,000 children growing up in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam over the past 15 years. We eagerly await the sequel of evidence to come from this study.
At Origin, we are committed to a process of lifelong learning and as such, we remain as up to date as possible on recent evidence on poverty alleviation. This is why our social business' methods are the way they are. However the conclusions of the evidence as well as the collective experiences of many are why we really believe the future of African communities lies in the hands of the local inspirational trend setters and entrepreneurs.
They are the leaders and we are behind them all the way!
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