Congolese refugees creating beautiful handwoven baskets

3 MADE51 Small Handmade Makenge Basket on a wooden table, stood in a row

A close up of the copper wire weaving on the MADE51 Small Handmade Makenge Basket

MADE51 Refugee Made Makenge Basket

Name: MADE51 Refugee Made Makenge Basket
Brand: MADE51
SKU: FZB-BAS-MAK-CRM-13
Price: 32.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

MADE51

£32.00

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Description
Key features
Key ethics

Natural Woven Makenge Storage Basket - Handmade and Fair Trade Handcrafted by Congolese refugee weavers, this beautiful and unique, natural...

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Natural Woven Makenge Storage Basket - Handmade and Fair Trade

Handcrafted by Congolese refugee weavers, this beautiful and unique, natural fair trade woven basket is made from dried Makenge root with woven copper detailing. Use it to store small items, displaying a favourite house plant, or adding a touch of artisanal decor to your home.

Basket weaving in East Africa is a skill passed down from mothers to daughters and holds great cultural significance, with pieces having not only practical use but also having deep symbolic meaning. Baskets are carefully crafted and given as gifts on special occasions. Each piece takes up to 2 weeks to make, using coiling, plaiting and braiding techniques, with the poignant stories of their maker woven into each basket. This fair trade storage basket is perfect for initiating the conversation about people forcibly displaced by war, violence, disaster and persecution and supporting building a better future for refugees.

MADE51 is an initiative brought to life by the UNHRC, the UN Refugee Agency, providing refugees the opportunity to use their craftsmanship to regain economic independence. This small woven fruit bowl is crafted by Congolese refugees living in Zambia.

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Key features:
- A small fair trade woven basket handcrafted from Makenge roots and copper wire.
- Crafted by Congolese refugees living in Zambia.
- Made in partnership with FREE.
- Due to the handmade nature of these products there may be slight variations in shape, size, and colour.
Size: Ø15cm x 13cm
Materials: Makenge roots, copper wire.
Key product ethics:
- Supporting refugees by providing opportunities to regain economic independence.
- Made by artisanal Congolese weavers.
- Made from natural materials.
- Fair trade product.
Made by FREE, a non-profit based in Lusaka, Zambia, empowers women through traditional crafts and modern techniques. Founded in 2011, FREE provides training in basket weaving and metalworking, enabling women to lift themselves out of poverty. Their handcrafted baskets, made by Congolese weavers in Zambia, carry the heritage and stories of their makers. Alongside these beautiful baskets, FREE also produces jewelry from upcycled copper, helping women gain financial independence and create brighter futures.

made by refugees
hand made
fair trade
natural material

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MADE51 Refugee Made Makenge Basket

£32.00

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Empowering Refugee Artisans: Crafting Hope with Roots and UNHCR

Refugee women in South Sudan, Kenya, and Egypt are creating limited edition UNHCRxUNIQLO #WithRefugees keychains and bracelets. These beautiful items are the result of a collaboration between UNHCR and social enterprises, including Roots, Bawa Hope, and Yadawee. Through this partnership, 150 refugee women, who have fled conflict and hardship, are empowered to use their traditional craft skills to support their families and communities. In South Sudan, the Roots project plays a vital role in transforming lives within refugee camps. Women who once struggled to survive now find purpose and income through their artistry. This work not only provides financial stability but also fosters a sense of community and pride. The women involved express deep gratitude for the opportunity, as it allows them to build better futures for themselves and their children.

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Hana, a smiling refugee artisan, stands outdoors wearing a white t-shirt, proud of her work in the #WithRefugees project

Empowering Refugee Artisans: Crafting Hope with Roots and UNHCR

Five women sit together indoors, engaged in crafting. They are Syrian refugees, working on handmade items as part of the Oshana social enterprise, which empowers them to rebuild their lives.

Oshana: Empowering Syrian Refugee Women

Oshana is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering Syrian refugee women in Lebanon by providing them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives through meaningful work. Many of these women have lost their homes and loved ones due to the war in Syria and have sought refuge in Lebanon, where they face numerous challenges. Oshana offers them a chance to regain their dignity and independence by utilizing their traditional craft skills, such as crochet. Through Oshana, these women create beautiful, handcrafted items, like blankets and tote bags, each piece reflecting their resilience and creativity. The work not only provides them with a source of income but also helps them to heal and find purpose after experiencing profound trauma. Oshana, supported by the organization Makani, ensures that all profits go back into supporting these women, helping them to build better futures for themselves and their families. By participating in this social enterprise, the women of Oshana find community, strength, and hope as they stitch together a brighter tomorrow.

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Equality Through Fairtrade

Together, we can make trading fairly with farmers and labourers the norm- because it should be! At Babipur we want to tackle unequally divided supply chains, and ensure that the workers making our products are paid fairly and treated with respect.

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MADE51 Refugee Made Makenge Basket

MADE51