Malindi Handicrafts
The Malindi Handcraft Co-operative Society was registered in 1986 under the Kenya Co-operative Society Act with a beginning membership of 30 highly skilled woodcarver artisans. The primary aim of the formation of the co-operative was to give the power of business ownership back to the people-in our case our woodcarvers. By forming the cooperative, our members hoped to create a better life for themselves, their families, and their community. Over the next 20 years, these woodcarvers worked diligently to share the benefits of business ownership with others while keeping the tradition of woodcarving alive and thriving.
What started on borrowed land has evolved and grown to become an organization of over 640 highly skilled woodcarvers. We are today the second largest handicraft co-operative in Kenya and the only biggest industry in Malindi town with a total share capital of Ksh 2,754,050.00
The Co-operative is owned and operated by its member woodcarvers. We are in the process of gaining fair trade certification through the Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA). We are already subscribing to the principles of fair trade in that a full 80% of profits are returned to the members, and the remaining 20% is used for business expenses and for the future growth and expansion of the co-operative. We are as well undergone the FSC certification programme whereby, the buyers of our products are assured that the carvings we offer for sale originated from a well managed forest and was processed through acceptable methods.
In this programme the main wood used is neem. Neem is tree specie which grows very fast along the coast and it is the alternative tree used now from the forest indigenous trees of Kenya.
Cerification
Our mission is to empower our member woodcarvers to take control of and expand their own entrepreneurial spirit and to create beautiful, socially & environmentally responsible fairly traded products that best represent our culture, our heritage, and our traditions. Through our work and perseverance, we strive to create a better life for ourselves, our families, and our community.
Our vision is to become the number one seller of handicrafts in Kenya, and to increase our international footprint by opening new markets for our unique handicrafts around the world. We will do so in a responsible manner consistent with our mission.
The member carvers now own the land of approximately 4 acres after 20 years of operating on a borrowed land. On this land our woodcarvers create their art and it is a major tourist draw in Malindi, Kenya - our home and the source of our inspiration. Only 2 acres of the land are developed with a permanent showroom sponsored by the European Union and The Government of Kenya through an organization called Micro-Enterprises Support Program (MESP) by funding
Ksh 7.4 Million for construction of a showroom.
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A Quality team was formed during the chain of custody training for carvers beginning of August this year. They are responsible to control all levels of production to ensure the quality of our pieces meet the specification given. This team is comprised of three people; two master carvers plus the manager. Each step in production is monitored and checked for product quality-from rough stage carving, to sanding, then to finishing before it is accepted in showroom or sent for export.
