Kufaa Tena

"Kufaa Tena" means to be useful again in Kiswahili, and if you're a 'greenie' or just get the warm and fuzzies when you see people getting together and coming up with solutions in which everyone wins, solutions which also "hug" the enviornment-then your going to love this project!!!

Born in March of 2005 in Zanzibar's tiny Bwejuu village, the Kufaa Tena Project, also now known as 'Women's Voice'-arose out of a problem and need.The problem was the ugly hoards of discarded plastic bags littering the island's beautiful beaches and quaint towns-not only was the litter unsightly, but problematic for their sewage and drainage system. The need was amongst local women to create better economic opportunities for themselves.The solution started with the simple and creative ideal to collect some of those discarded plastic bags, clean them, then cut,rework and weave them into durable and attractive over-the-shoulder bags and floor baskets.Local children earn money by collecting the wasted plastic bags for the women's group who then create and sell the final product for a profit.The success of this brilliant yet simple solution was apparent when within a short time, not a discarded plastic bags were to be found!!The unadulterated beauty of the natural landscape was returned to all, and in the process women and children created some much-needed revenue for themselves. What a win-win!!!

Kufaa Tena also now makes "Obama Aprons" and is currently working to use some of the recycled and discarded glass in mosaic pieces-be on the watch!!

For more information or to order products please visit:

http://www.enterafrica.net/kufaa-tena.html