Startup Story
Nyambura Munyua is the founder and executive director of Thogithi Handmade Community Based Organisation in Laikipia County in Kenya. She is a steward of the sustainable development goals which envision a better world for us all. Her social impact initiative is founded to empower women and local communities. It aims to catalyse local production, improve livelihoods, encourage entrepreneurship, and address the potential women have to improve their livelihoods by undertaking activities that generate income and build the social fabric. Nyambura aspires to continuously create well-designed products that leave a positive footprint in the communities in which her organisation operates.
LoA spoke to the inspirational Nyambura Munyua about her vision and her social impact mission in her community.
What does your company do?
We catalyze local production within the community, with identified knitters, to increase the Made in Kenya brand awareness and to have tradable products under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AFCFTA) and globally. We improve the quality of life by assimilating the vulnerable knitters living with disabilities in the group. We empower the inmate community economically through entrepreneurship skills in the making of the yarn products. We preserve a dying craft that is knitting. Knowledge transfer allows the generations behind to learn an economic craft that has slowly been wiped out by imports of finished products. We are mitigating our carbon footprint. Our flagship product, the indoor socks, is hand knitted and uses buttons made from recycled plastics in the community. The community will also engage in a lot of tree planting activities. We work with women in prisons under our reintegration programme. This allows the convicts the dignity of the after prison life and in generating an income that is socially acceptable.
“Creation of jobs locally was the most compelling reason that pushed me towards being an agent of change.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I'm a strong believer in cottage industries and the potential they have to improve Africa's GDP. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I wanted to walk the talk and live an intentional life of consuming and producing a Made in Kenya brand. I worked with the available resources within my radius and I involved the community of women around me who believed in my vision. Creation of jobs locally was the most compelling reason that pushed me towards being an agent of change.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Knitting or grandmother's hobby as it is popularly known helps in improving cognitive function, reduces stress and anxiety in older people. This is one of the first benefits of our business. Our vision is to change the marginalized women into a community of confident and talented women, who produce goods for the global market. The social impact is evident within our community of knitters who have previously never monetized the hobby.
“Our vision is to change the marginalized women into a community of confident and talented women, who produce goods for the global market. The social impact is evident within our community of knitters who have previously never monetized the hobby.”
Tell us a little about your team
Thogithi Handmade directly supports 49 women who are massively talented in knitting. They are the people behind our wonderful products. All aged between 44-73 years old. They are majorly low income earners who do Thogithi as a second job. They are the village wash ladies and till people's land to fend for themselves. 85% are single mothers who work extra hard to make ends meet.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I am a demand planner by profession but I have always wanted to get into the Civil Society Organizations(CSO). My father was a civil servant before retirement. My mother was a civil servant too but she engaged in some side businesses to help supplement the family income.
“We envision the brand growing locally and outside our borders. We want you whenever you are, near or far, to take a piece of Kenya with you.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We envision the brand growing locally and outside our borders. We want you whenever you are, near or far, to take a piece of Kenya with you.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Gosh, the profound feedback I get from our knitters is so heartwarming. They share the projects that they have been able to do with the proceeds earned from Thogithi and every time they do this, I always do a happy dance. The projects include buying water tanks, digital mobile phones, roofing sheets, educating their children and so much more. That for me is the most satisfying feeling ever!
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just start. You will figure everything out along the way.
Contact or follow Thogithi Handmade Community
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL thogithi254@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
At Lionesses of Africa, we love raising awareness of and celebrating women impact makers, those who take their expertise, knowledge, passion and skills and turn them into real change on the ground. Nyambura Munyua is doing just that, stimulating income earning opportunities to those who are disadvantaged by creating communities of knitters. By harnessing the potential of both people and an age-old craft, she is helping people to monetize their hobby and change their economic lives. Truly inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa