What We Are Up To

is for Mentorship

10July2013 is the launch of Craft Afrika's Mentorship Program or CAMP.

An important aspect of business development, mentorship will provide an opportunity for our emerging designers/makers to experience a continuum of support and guidance as they exit the craft enterprise training program. The mentorship cycle is six months and we expect that by the time 10December2013 rolls in, progressive and supportive business relationships will be the norm between our mentees and mentors.

Craft Afrika has the privilege of working with some of the most successful craftpreneurs on the program, including Zohra Baraka- Mohazo and Makena Mwiraria- African Heritage Design Company.

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       Thursday 28 and Friday 29 of March 2013 would easily qualify as two of the most exciting days since CEIP began. Here is why.
One of the program objectives is to provide access to funding for our CEIP students. However, before we can do so, we have to ensure they are confident about their business idea, their products, their business models and most importantly, their focus area once the money is received.

Larrissa and Kristine after receiving the good news

Through crowd funding platform Kiva Zip, we are able to connect students borrowers with lenders from around the world.
Wednesday 27th March saw two student  profiles go live- Larrissa Muthoni's (left) and Kristine Kabura's. Less than 24 hours later, the two had raised 100% of what they were asking for. Come Thursday and Gillianne Obaso's profile went up and once again, she raised everything she needed- and from a single lender too!

The reason why this is such a landmark for Craft Afrika is because we have set a precedent. We have successfully forged a partnership that allows individual craftpreneurs an opportunity to access capital funding without any form of collateral. The process is stress free, utilizes internet technology, as well the convenient mobile platform, Mpesa.  Our partnership with Kiva Zip is a pertinent one, serving important aspects of our capacity building objectives such as the ability of our students to use information and communication technology (ICT) tools for business growth, creating solid business plans that can attract funding and expanding market share through exploration of various market linkages. So what exactly is Kiva Zip? I spoke to Pascalia Sila, the Relationships Manager- Kiva Zip Kenya.
          Kiva Zip is a pilot project launched by Kiva in both the US and Kenya to explore a new approach to micro-finance, through direct person to person micro lending. It is an online platform that connects lenders from all over the world to borrowers. 
The project has three objectives

• Expand access to capital by reaching those currently unserviced by mainstream financial institutions
• Lower the cost of capital (through interest free loans)
• Increase the connection between borrowers and lenders, who are able to communicate through SMS and the online platform.

Why would someone become a borrower through the Kiva Zip project? What are the benefits?
          The project offers various benefits

• Through 0% interest loans, Kiva Zip allows small businesses to access capital for expansion
• Unlike banks and Micro finance institutions (MFIs), Kiva Zip does not require collateral or security
• Since Kiva Zip uses the Mpesa platform for disbursements and payments, borrowers do not face the inconvenience of queuing at banking halls
• Through small loans, affordable payment schedules and regular communication between Kiva Zip and the borrower, the latter is able to expand his/her business while learning how to maintain regular finances. Additionally, the borrower gets an opportunity to start building a credit history.
• Successful borrowers (those who borrow and service the loan successfully) are able to take out larger and more flexible loans
• Through the Kiva platform, the borrower is able to access an online global audience to whom they can showcase their products and services

Craft Afrika is a Trustee with Kiva. What does this mean?
          Trustees are the core of the Kiva Zip model. They are our partner in that they have a similar mission of financial inclusion for those previously unserviced. Craft Afrika has a responsibility of identifying individuals and businesses with the capacity to repay loans borrowed. You also act as mentors and therefore provide support to the borrowers through the lending process and afterwards. Through Craft Afrika, we hope to reach even more people who could not previously access credit.

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           Our business partner Biz Baz Events, organizers of the Bizarre Bazaar Summer and Christmas craft fairs,  recently pledged a major contribution to our ongoing Craft Enterprise Incubation Program (CEIP2013).

Through the company CEO Carol Mbindyo, Biz Baz Events announced a Cash Back Incentive to the most promising craft entrepreneur graduating from the CEIP2013 program.
The cash reward, equivalent in amount to the 30,000 Kenya shillings paid in tuition fees, is meant to boost activity within the individual's business.

Additionally, Biz Baz Events will provide Craft Afrika a stall during the hugely popular Bizarre Bazaar Summer craft festival to be held June 22/23 2013. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the students to showcase products they have been working on during the course.

I had a chat with CEO Carol Mbindyo (right) on the Biz Baz Events/Craft Afrika partnership among other issues.
 

Biz Baz Events has recently announced that its Bizarre Bazaar craft fairs will take on a festival slant. What can we expect to see that is different?

          Bizarre Bazaar craft festivals are family events. We want to enhance what we've already achieved... a fantastic shopping experience in a great environment. We don't consider our craft festivals exclusive. We are all- inclusive and by adding more entertainment through live performances and music we'll be creating an all round experience for our sellers and buyers. We had a soft start during our last craft fair in November '12 and we're simply building up on that. 

Getting into Bizarre Bazaar craft fairs is said to be quite a task. What do you look for when picking exhibitors?
          We receive well over 300 applications for exhibition space. Whittling that list down to 80 is no easy task. Categories such as jewellery and clothing are always over-subscribed and although we see lots of beautiful stuff in both of these categories, we try to pick what we feel will add flavor to the overall shoppers' experience. Choosing exhibitors in not an exact science, nor is it a biased one as some imply. We aim to provide shoppers with variety in products and price and this is fundamentally our driving force.

What does Biz Baz Events hope to achieve in this new partnership with Craft Afrika?
          We are really excited about this partnership! We want to extend our reach throughout Africa and bring the arts and crafts of this continent to the world's attention- and this is what Craft Afrika is also doing through its various initiatives. We also want to be associated with innovation and the development of arts and crafts in Africa. By supporting Craft Afrika's Craft Enterprise Incubation Program (CEIP), we are literally putting our money where our dreams are.

What advice would you give to someone planning to enter the craft sector and what support would Biz Baz Events be able to give this person?
          One needs to identify growth areas and aim in that direction. For example, simple research will tell you that categories such as jewellery and clothing are saturated, while massive opportunities lie in the household, furniture and body products categories. In terms of support, Biz Baz Events will in the near future begin investing in start-up art and craft enterprises. We feel this is a natural growth opportunity for us and we cant wait to get started!