Bawa Hope: Where Wings of Hope Lift Communities from Poverty
In Swahili, "bawa" means wing. For the artisans working with Bawa Hope in Nairobi, Kenya, that wing offers something more: the lift to escape cycles of poverty that have defined their lives. Founded in the aftermath of Kenya's post-election violence in 2008, Bawa Hope has become a bridge between marginalized communities and global markets, transforming trauma into beauty through contemporary, ethnic brass jewelry, beaded jewelry, and woven baskets.
The enterprise's origin story began in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in January 2008, where founder Anne Nzilani encountered women making jewelry amid the chaos of displacement. When Anne asked one woman why she continued creating despite losing everything, the response became the company's north star: "The poorest person in the world isn't one without food and shelter, but one without hope."
We continue to provide marketing and business development support to our artisan partners via our e-commerce sites: www.sproutenterprise.net and www.tilonia.com. And we continue to support the Kaliyachak Girls Learning Center in rural Bihar, India.
Read the full report.
Download the Sprout Enterprise® Impact Report 2025
Mexico's "Pottery of the Night" Is Perfect for the Day of the Dead
In the Oaxacan village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, Silvia García Mateos is one of the members of Colectivo 1050°, an artisan cooperative steering the 2,500-year-old tradition of black pottery back to its sustainable roots.
Photograph by Mariceu Erthal García, National Geographic
Rachna Sachasinh describes with care the pottery craft in Oaxaca and the work of the Colectivo 1050°, giving it the visibility it deserves. She spoke with Amando Pedro, other artisans of the cooperative, and with Kythzia Barrera and Diego Mier y Terán about their experiences in the world of pottery in Oaxaca.
AOW Insider: A Master of Color Shares His Inspiration
Annie Waterman of AOW Handmade speaks with Keith Recker, founder of HAND/EYE magazine and author of the book, True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments which includes a chapter on Avani.
In Sync with Mother Earth
Community-based NGO Avani integrates local skills, resources and the participation of community members to create beautiful textiles.
The Art of Turning Mud into Beauty
1050° is the temperature at which tradition and modernity merge to turn mud into beauty.
Petén Rising: The Story of Itza Wood
From the heart of the Guatemalan jungle, Itza Wood hand crafts quality furnishings and wooden wares.