Authentic African is all about fair trade and African handmade. We are a company that believes in helping African Artisans sell their products around the world. We are on a mission to become Alibaba of Africa. We not only want to do well, but we want to do GOOD for the people of AFRICA. We have partnered with two of the premiere platforms that work with local African artisans and will be adding more as time goes on.

 

AFRICA IMPORTS

• Africa Imports brings lasting income to people and communities in Africa in two ways: 
• We bring thousands of African creations to the global market, This creates real change with a sustainable income for hundreds of small business people in Africa 
• We also help hundreds of African orphan children through direct donations. Every purchase from Africa Imports helps pay for food, schooling, and medical care for hundreds of special needs children. We are closely connected with these children, and do extra to guarantee that this money is properly distributed to them. 
• This is what drives our company, In 2018, our donations totalled over $212,000. Seeing these children has made a big difference in the lives of several of us who work here; and has helped accomplish some tremendous and lasting good for many of these kids individually. 
• Since the beginning our charitable work in 2007, Africa Imports has contributed over $1.5 million to help people in need in Africa. It's not just money, we have personal long-term relationships with about 60 adults who help the children and others. 
• If we each do a little in the battle against injustice and oppression, together we can do something that matters. 
• About half the profits from your purchases go to help orphan children in Africa. When even a little bit of money goes to the right place, WE make a big difference in someone else's life. 
• What we try to accomplish in our giving 
• One thing that we try to do is to help some of the neediest people in the world. We purchase food for almost 1,000 orphan children. Many receive food each day, others once a week or less. These children are some of the world’s most helpless people in many ways. 
• Because we also want to help stop the cause of many of these problems, Africa Imports also supports a number of teachers and other adults who help these children and others to obtain valuable life skills. By teaching these skills, it is hoped that there will be fewer children needing this kind of help in the future. 

SWAHILI AFRICAN MODERN 

• Swahili African Modern - is a U.S. import, design and distribution company that promotes exchange between two networks. 
• Swahili's African network includes individual artisans, export agents and micro-enterprises in the nations of Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Senegal. 
• Swahili's global network includes private collectors and thousands of retail stores, museums, educational institutions, websites and catalog companies sourcing modern fairly traded African products at competitive price points. Professional buyers and store owners sell Swahili's fair trade African creations on six continents. 
•  Swahili believes in the potential for a sustainable network of trade between Africa and the world. Since every transaction that occurs with Swahili influences how African producers perceive American business, company operations center on responsible practices that promote growth and cultural affinity. 
•  Artisan Advancement 
•  Swahili believes that hardworking African artisans, producers and export agents hold the key to their own personal success, and that the path to success requires a steady, committed pace. Swahili extends each artisan's channel of trade from local markets to the global marketplace, all the while providing artisans with options to work from the comfort of their own homes and communities. Secure in the knowledge that the fair payment they receive will not be reduced by traveling expenses, childcare costs and haggled prices, most artisans in the Swahili network promote their family's future by using earnings to put food on the table and pay educational expenses for their children. 

Accountability 

• Swahili is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, a group of like-minded companies and organizations that adhere to: 
• providing fair payment to workers in developing nations 
• educating artisans and workers to increase their potential for advancement 
• ensuring the rights of children 
• developing products and processes that protect and conserve the natural environment 
• promoting fair trade as the standard in commercial exchanges 
• Swahili is also a Shared Interest fair trade loan facility holder. As the world’s only 100% fair trade lender, the Shared Interest cooperative currently lends over 33 million pounds yearly to both producers in developing nations and the buyers who distribute their goods worldwide. Shared Interest funds, invested completely by members with UK bank accounts, today facilitate fair trade transactions in 36 nations around the world. In 2004 the organization founded the Shared Interest Foundation to provide business training to marginalized producers, furthering the sustainability of cooperative investments. The Shared Interest Society received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2008. 

 Working Directly 

•  Swahili is a small company whose orders provide many African artisans with income. Even with a small staff, Swahili maintains accountability with artisans by visiting groups in person at least once yearly. These important face-to-face sessions allow the company to: 
• confirm that payments are being received and properly allocated to individual artisans * discuss problems, implementation of new designs and strategies for future development 
• conduct training sessions with export agents, team leaders and artisans to further streamline operations, increase production capacity and reduce errors\ 
• emphasize Swahili's ongoing commitment to each artisan's or group's success