Founded in November 2006, Indego Africa Project is a ground-breaking social enterprise whose mission is to help Africans deliver themselves out of poverty by:

• FAIR WAGES: Paying partner artisans a fair wage for their incredible handicrafts
• UNIQUE HANDICRAFTS: Marketing their handicrafts to socially-conscious consumers in developed countries, and
• DONATED PROFITS: Giving back 100% of profits, and other donations, to the artisans for social development programming that they select

Starting with its pilot program in Rwanda, Indego Africa is challenging outdated models of development (that encourage dependence on direct aid) and delivers to its partners a real stake in their own development.  In contrast to past programs, our partners can claim that they have rightfully earned anything that we provide to them.  As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, donors are invited to INVEST in this exciting new model for change.  Click DONATE NOW or SHOP NOW!

THE INDEGO AFRICA MODEL

The key structural innovation of Indego Africa is the coupling of revenue-generation with traditional development programs.  This is accomplished through two core components:

• HANDICRAFT PROGRAM: Fair Trade & Ownership. Indego Africa starts by providing cooperatives of women in Rwanda with a fair trade wage for their artistically- and culturally-significant handicrafts.  Indego Africa then arranges for transport and customs, establishes relationships with prominent retailers, and sells the products in export markets.  After paying for expenses, Indego Africa gives back 100% of profits to the cooperatives through its Hand Up program, where the women help direct funds towards job training programs and capital projects that greatly improve their lives.

For more on Indego Africa’s Partner Communities, click here.

• HAND UP PROGRAM: Training & Transparency. Indego Africa’s innovative “Hand Up” development program aims to (a) safeguard and diversify its partners’ income-generating skills, and (b) transform partner cooperatives into durable community development institutions.  Indego Africa arranges for workshops in both basic skills and high-value skills that are needed in the local economy.  To educate its partners in the handicraft business, Indego Africa provides full disclosure on how the handicrafts are priced and sold as they move through the global market.  Through such transparency, a new generation of entrepreneurs is created.

For more on the “Hand Up” program, click here.

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