Businesses can foster social development when their sole concern is not profit. Social enterprises are companies that prioritize sustainability, working conditions and social impact while at the same time providing job opportunities and, usually, developing local economies. At the True Travelers Society, we are on a mission to find the best social enterprises you can support by either buying their products, volunteering or working with them. Check out our profiles of 5 awesome social enterprises examples – we hope they inspire you:
Krochet Kids
Krochet Kids is a non-profit social capitalism brand that empowers people by creating and selling knit and crocheted apparel. The company was created in 2007. Kohl, Stewart and Travis are the founders of the company. The three childhood friends were dubbed “Krochet Kids” in their hometown of Spokane (USA). They decided to teach crocheting to people in developing countries to break the cycle of poverty. They started working in Northern Uganda, employing communities living in refugee camps. Their success allowed them to grow and extend their operations to Peru. Now, they employ hundreds of people in both countries as product makers, with fair wages and conditions.
The non-profit wants you to know who is making the products you purchase. That is why, through their sister brand, KNOWN SUPPLY, you can meet the makers. In each product, there is also a label with the signature of the maker. Today, Krochet Kids is helping more than 150 Ugandans and Peruvians make a fair wage through the sale of crocheted goods. Their staff are working, receiving education, and being mentored toward a brighter future in creating gifts that give back.
To support Krochet Kids’ mission, you should definitely purchase some of their products! They started by specializing in stylish headwear, such as beanies, headbands, and hats. Their products are eco-friendly, made from Polylana Yarn. They look great, with a distinctive style, but are also super soft and comfortable.
Besides headwear, there are also many other great products you can check out. Krochet Kids sells many accessories to complement your wardrobe, from beautiful scarves to cozy gloves and stylish bags.
Their products are available for women, men, and children. They also have a few toys, primarily stuffed animals, and accessories for babies and toddlers, such as shoes and masks. Most of the products are crocheted, and you will always be able to check where the product was produced and who made it.
Krochet Kids wants to be more than just another clothing company. They want to propose a new model of ethical capitalism, which values the makers of products and advocates for sustainable and ethical supply chains. Through their work in Uganda and Peru, they want to lift underprivileged communities from poverty through a skills development model and financial independence that can create both short- and long-term results.
The following statement from through their sister brand, KNOWN SUPPLY, shows how disruptive their mission truly is and how it puts the power in the hands of consumers: “As more of us put people first when it comes to making our purchasing decisions, the clothing industry will too. Together with you, we will tell an industry that all people are valuable, and in the process, we’ll change the lives of the millions of people who are a part of it.”
Beza Threads
Beza Threads is a social enterprise based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, whose mission is to provide rehabilitation and job training to formerly enslaved children. The word “Beza” means “Redemption” or “Transformation” in Amharic, and that is precisely what the social enterprise aims to do.
The organization primarily supports young women, teenage boys and children. 90% of its sales profits are distributed to partners on the ground running rehabilitative and preventative programs and paying fair wages. Only 10% goes to administration fees as volunteers run the team.
The social enterprise mainly sells two kinds of products: scarves and leather goods. Artisans handcraft the scarves in Ethiopia. The artisans use a blend of cotton, polyester, and also silk. They are very light so you can use them all year round.
The leather goods are handcrafted by young women who were rescued from prostitution. An Ethiopian teacher leads the technical leather school. The young women follow a one-year training program to learn how to work with leather and craft beautiful products, a skill that can ensure them financial independence for a lifetime.
There are many different leather goods currently available in the online store. From tote bags to backpacks, saddlebags, crossbodies, wallets, laptop sleeves and toiletry bags, you will most likely find the bag you are looking for. All the leather goods look great, expertly made and sophisticated. All are from genuine Ethiopian calf leather. The company also has a few leather accessories for sale, such as teardrop earrings, bracelets, and tassels.
By purchasing their products, you will not only be contributing to the economic empowerment of the artisans, but you will also be supporting the on-the-ground partners directly working with youth and children, victims of exploitation. It is a win-win situation for all parties, plus you will have a stylish and unique product!
If you would like to support Beza Threads but prefer not to buy any products, you can donate directly to the organization. Generally, rescuing and training a young woman costs about $1,500 a year. The young women and girls have access to counselling, recovery programs, and also job training.
Another way to support the social enterprise is to donate to the three-year preschool program. This program pays for schooling material and provides food for the families of young children. Supporting a child to undergo this program costs about $400 per year.
The social enterprise also uses donations to pay for much-needed materials, such as generators or leather working machines, and, whenever possible, administrative costs.
You can choose how your donation should be used, and Beza Threads will make sure to keep you updated. So, if you can, consider “Donating freedom,” as they put it.
Mekong Quilts
If you ever wondered how you could support women in Vietnam and Cambodia, then Mekong Quilts is the social enterprise for you! Founded in 2001, their mission is to promote sustainable employment of underprivileged Cambodian and Vietnamese women. They create high-quality and eco-friendly products, but their main focus is having a positive impact on people.
Currently, Mekong Quilts employs around 100 women in villages, ensuring them a better quality of life. Because the products – such as quilts – require low investment, the women are home-based workers. As such, they have the chance to remain close to their families.
Mekong Quilts is also concerned with the global environmental crisis. Therefore, they make sure that all the materials are from local sources. They use natural linen or cotton to manufacture clothes and recycled newspapers to create their papier-maché product. They are also enthusiasts of bamboo, one of the most sustainable materials, which they use to create bikes.
Unlike other awesome social enterprises on this list, Mekong Quilts has been around for a long time – twenty years! – and it shows. It has many great products for sale, from cushions to masks. They specialize in quilts, which feature fantastic patterns and are hand weaved. The quilts are high quality, but they are also easy to take care of, so they are a useful and practical item that can make your bedroom a much cozier and elegant space. The social enterprise also sells cushions to go with the quilts.
They also sell hammocks, which are ideal for camping or the cabin. The hammocks are also quilts, so they have the same fascinating patterns and craftsmanship.
As mentioned before, Mekong Quilts also produces bamboo bikes. Besides the bikes themselves, the company also sells many bamboo accessories, such as baskets, helmets, bottle holders, handlebars, fenders and chain guards. Therefore, even if something breaks in your bicycle, you should be able to find a replacement part without any problem.
Other beautiful items by Mekong Quilts are the papier-maché lanterns and mobis, which are great for decoration.
Finally, Mekong Quilts also sells women’s clothing, such as tops, jumpsuits, blouses and dresses. With simple styles inspired by Southeast Asian fashion, the clothes are exquisite yet still unique.
Mekong Quilts is the social enterprise of the NGO Mekong Plus, which has existed for over twenty-six years. The NGO works in education, employment, agriculture, infrastructure and health and hygiene prevention. Their end goal is to eliminate extreme poverty in the villages of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia. Mekong Quilts is part of their employment activities. Since they first established the social enterprise in 2001, the market has changed. Lately, online sales have become more important due to the closure of shops during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has never been so easy and yet so important to support women in rural Cambodia and Vietnam. If you want to contribute to eliminating extreme poverty and support awesome social enterprises, order an item from Mekong Quilts and make sure to share this social enterprise with other potential clients.
Thistle Farms
Thistle Farms is another of our featured awesome social enterprises. Becca Stevens, a survivor of child abuse, created it. Becca wanted to create a sanctuary for women who had suffered similar experiences. She started with a home and five women survivors. But soon, she realized that the lack of financial self-sufficiency was hindering their recovery process. To create opportunities for the women, they started making and selling candles and soon established Thistle Farms.
For Thistle Farms, “Love is the most powerful force for change in the world.” They implement a two-year residential program for women survivors with access to basic needs, therapeutic groups, counselling and job training. Five years after the end of the program, 75% of former residents are living independently and able to provide for themselves. You can learn about the life story of the women who have graduated from the program here.
Thistle Farms currently operates three social enterprises. The first is Body & Home, which sells bath and body products and essential oils. The second social enterprise is The Café and Shop, a cozy and elegant café in Tennesee, USA. And the third is the Global Shared Trade, a network of artisan survivor enterprises for economic empowerment. Through this social enterprise, Thistle Farms sells products of artisans from across the world. It also identifies partners to help scale their activities and impact.
You can access all the products sold by these different social enterprises on the Thistle Farms website and online store. There, you will find a diversity of candles for sale, as well as bath and body products such as soap, lotions, balms or even hand sanitizers and bug spray. There is also a good collection of essential oils and products for the home, such as pillowcases, towels, napkin sets, baskets, and many other products created by women artisans from across the globe. You can also purchase apparel and jewelry, such as bags, t-shirts, hats, hoodies.
Finally, there are also products for those that might want to learn more about Thistle Farm’s mission. You can purchase books and journals from the founder Becca Stevens and other survivors. This way, you can know more about their experiences and journey in their own words.
Thistle Farms is unique in this selection of awesome social enterprises because it is a universe of its own. There are so many different products you can purchase and so many programs and partnerships established by the organization! The impact of Thistle Farms on the lives of survivors is astonishing. Many of them have experienced od addiction, abuse, incarceration and poverty. But Thistle Farms, as a survivor-led movement, can make a huge difference in these women’s lives. It can also ensure that they can heal and become financially self-sufficient.
If you want to contribute to the empowerment of women survivors and this “lifelong sisterhood of support,” as Thistle Farms describes itself, then consider buying products directly from their website, visiting The Café and Shop in Tennessee or purchasing a Gift Card.
SheNative
SheNative is the only of our awesome social enterprises led by an indigenous woman. The organization is committed to uplifting other indigenous women throughout North America. Devon Fiddler, the company’s founder, accomplished her childhood dream of being a fashion designer by creating a company focused on selling leather handbags and apparel inspired by indigenous culture. The products are stylish and original. But what really sets them apart is the ethos of the company and their goal.
Fiddler recounts how her childhood and youth as an indigenous girl and woman shaped her worldview. Social struggles that disproportionately impact the Indigenous communities, such as family violence, incarceration, and racism. These were some of the challenges Fiddler had to overcome. Despite experiencing self-doubt and hopelessness, Fiddler managed to change her life. Today, she is a public speaker and program developer in entrepreneurship and leadership. From a young woman with low self-esteem, she has emerged as a changemaker, widely recognized for her work in various business competitions.
The company is committed to employing indigenous women to design and manufacture its products. It also makes sure that indigenous communities are involved in the design process. The motto of SheNative is that everyone “can live a full, meaningful and abundant life.” They try to provide Indigenous women with the inner strength and opportunities to make that happen. SheNative also wants to promote the experiences and perspectives of other female entrepreneurs. Therefore routinely features other indigenous women entrepreneurs and changemakers in their blog. Their focus is not competition, but rather fostering a collaborative and inspiring environment. This provides Indigenous women and girls with positive role models. Besides providing jobs, SheNative also donates 2% of its revenue to causes that positively impact indigenous women.
Inspiring Indigenous women Helen Oro and Tori-Lynn Wanotch and founder Devon Fiddler design all the products of SheNative. They include leather goods, such as earrings, bags, and clutches, all beautifully handmade. SheNative also sells crop tops and t-shirts with inspiring messages for women, men, and children.
SheNative has developed various fashion collections, which aim to reflect Indigenous cultural heritage mixed with modern design techniques. Her clothing and accessories bring attention to important social issues and take inspiration from tradition and poetry.
Knowing how Indigenous communities are often marginalized, supporting an Indigenous-led business for the empowerment of Indigenous women is a great way to express your solidarity. If you love Indigenous fashion and artifacts, make sure to buy them directly from Indigenous-led companies and manufacturers, so you can contribute directly to their communities and honour their heritage. SheNative wants to fight back against negative stereotypes and romanticization of Indigenous women by creating products by and for them.
Each of the products of SheNative was created to uplift and empower Indigenous women, so it is definitely an awesome social enterprise worth supporting!
Isn’t it great to know about all the fantastic work these social enterprises are doing? To know more inspiring stories, make sure to check out our blog. If you know of any social enterprise doing great work, we’d love to hear about it!
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