Established by the FutureSense Foundation in October 2010, Urafiki Usangi is a small craft cooperative based in the mountains of the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.

The cooperative produces quality Tanzanian craft goods for the tourist souvenir market, giving impoverished women and families affected by HIV the opportunity to build new livelihoods and become self-sufficient.

Urafiki Usangi aims to:

• Provide employment and income to Usangi women & their families who have no current livelihood
• Encourage and develop business skills among local women
• Create a viable and self-sustaining business
• Benefit the Usangi region by retaining profits locally
• Provide a business model that can be replicated in other rural locations around Africa

Location
Usangi is located in the Pare Mountains in northern Tanzania. It is a small village which serves as the business centre for a number of smaller settlements. Roads into the mountains are currently very basic with development planned in the near future. Two bus companies run daily services to and from Moshi and Arusha but Usangi is rarely visited by tourists.

Product Materials
All hand-dyed batiki materials are provided by craft workers from NICE, a workshop in Arusha, which supports the running of an orphanage school. Kitenge materials are sourced from a local outlet in Arusha. All other materials are purchased locally in Usangi or Arusha.

The Cooperative
Currently Urafiki employs two seamstresses and a business manager, who receive ongoing support from FutureSense volunteers. A set of high quality samples is available for potential stockists, targeting hotel groups and tourist attractions. Urafiki is still reliant on financial support from the FutureSense Foundation while the business is developed, but it aims to become fully self-sufficient in the near future.

*You can lend your support to Urafiki by buying some of the cooperative’s fantastic products. All profits go to Usangi women. Look through the product range below and fill in the information form at the bottom of the page if you’re interested in making a purchase.*

Product Information Form

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