EcoChic Fairtrade

Yakanaka bead room- Zimbabwe

We are delighted to be working with Yakanaka,  from Zimbabwe, meaning "Africa is beautiful" who design & supply ECO CHIC Fair Trade with the most special handmade beaded jewellery.

Here is a little more information for you:

YAKANAKA FAIR TRADE STATEMENT

Yakanaka seeks to support economically disadvantaged members of marginalised communities through the provision of sustainable employment opportunities It seeks to provide economic security through regular employment and patronage. It offers an environment where new skills are transferred in a dignified, clean and safe working environment. Where possible we support and facilitate the education of its employees’ families as a strategy for combating material poverty

In order to provide sustainable opportunities, we actively support skills building in all our employees and seek to promote the skills of local producers in the communities where we work. We work to establish long term relationships with like minded producers, suppliers and customers to ensure that we are able to use these relationships to build opportunities. Building up long term supplier networks provides sustainable employment opportunities for more people with a positive effect on local communities and economies

We actively work to open up new markets for our products to ensure that we have access to new and developing markets. Innovation in our product range and being open to new opportunities ensures that we can expand wherever possible to promote our organisation and bring more people into our commercial network.

Wherever possible and in all its business dealings Yakanaka promotes the objectives of Fair Trade. We have clear objectives to deliver a product that competes with mainstream products on design, quality and packaging to ensure customers have a choice available to them when buying. We aim to educate our suppliers and customers as to what Fair Trade means ethically, commercially and to the people involved. As representatives for Fair Trade we ensure that all our dealings with customers and suppliers are open and honest. We seek to raise awareness within our marketplace of Fair Trade issues through discussion, education and promotion and awareness.

We actively provide opportunities for women in our company. We seek to employ women, to provide them with a skills base and an income that will be used to the benefit of their families and children. An income will be used to provide (mainly) shelter, food, clothing and educational needs for their children. We assist wherever possible in the provision of the above. We believe that being able to provide an income for your family is an uplifting experience that enables to women to have a level of independence, dignity and self respect which is an important part of contributing to the family and community. We do not discriminate on grounds or race, religion or gender.