Ojoba Collective was started in 2003 as a means to help poor villagers in West Africa gain a fair wage for their crafts. Working as teachers in a rural village in Ghana gave us an up-close look at the challenges faced by local people in West Africa. Most live at a very subsistence level, and often go hungry, or cannot afford basic needs like health care and school fees. We realized that one of the biggest obstacles to development in the region was a basic lack of financial resources. We met so many wonderful, talented, and hardworking people, but there was just simply not enough economic opportunities for them to improve their situations.

We originally started Ojoba Collective as a means of helping a few friends of ours who were skilled craftspeople, and in need of support. Today, we work with over 300 artisans, including two women's cooperatives, and one handicap association. We have connections in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and regularly travel to these places and meet with the artisans directly in their villages. We are very proud to personally know each and every artisan we work with, and have spent time in their homes learning about their crafts, as well as their lives. We are proudly endorsed by the Fair Trade Federation and CO-OP America, and believe very strongly in trying to create a more just and equitable world through mutual understanding, humanitarian work, and small-scale economies with a human face.

Thank you for your support!