Acacia Creations was founded in 2007 by Maura Kroh. After moving to Nairobi, Kenya at the age of 23 to work with an East Africa refugee camp, she was impressed by the sheer amount of artistic talent and resourcefulness thriving in these communities. Kroh then sought to help create sustainable employment opportunities that would allow these artisans to generate a liveable income via exposure to a global market.
While the company initially started in Kenya, Acacia Creations expanded its operation to include Zanzibar, Tanzania in 2012, where 15 artisans are alleviating the severe waste problem plaguing the island by upcycling wine bottles into lidded vessels. These artisans collect wine bottles leftover by tourists from nearby resorts, cut the bottles into varying sizes, then outfit the containers with fitted lids. Wooden lids are created using traditional woodcarving techniques with designs inspired by Swahili art, and bear patterns reminiscent of those adorning the iconic, great wooden doors of Zanzibar.
Your purchase of Acacia Creations’ products provides their artisans long-term employment, fair wages, a safe working environment and a dignified living for their predominantly female staff. Additionally, employees are granted a generous benefit package that includes three weeks paid leave per year, healthcare, interest-free loans, and financial assistance for their children’s education expenses. The company invests further into their employees by providing assistance with pursuing educational interests not necessarily job-related (such as driving school, obtaining a license, or computer training classes). Regular donations to conservation organizations are also made from the company’s profits as a way to extend their profits to the community at large.