About Us

Muenda Trading Company started as a little seed of an idea to find a market for beautiful woven baskets made by the resourceful women of South Africa. Today ,over a decade later Muenda supports disadvantaged artisans in over a dozen countries, mostly those living in Africa. Muenda means "one who cares for others" in Swahili, which is what we do! Muenda follows fair trade practices and strives in every way to have as little impact on the environment as possible. All of the organizations we work with are members of the Fair Trade Federation: an independant body that moniters fair trade practices and ensures that these are being followed. Susie the owner has travelled and volunteered in Africa over the years and has met many of the artisans she sells for. She believes that following the principles of fair trade and contributing to the empowerment of these artisans is a practical and sustainable way of helping to alleviate poverty at the grassroots level.

Our Mission:

Muenda provides disadvantaged artisans access to international markets with the aim to promote their crafts in a fair and sustainable way. We focus on those communities that conventional trade does not reach to provide opportunities for addressing poverty alleviation. Muenda strives to provide long-term, secure employment to these artisans through following fair trade principles.

Each of our Fair Trade gifts come with an informational tag along with referals to online resources about the artisans. This is a valuable way for the consumer, or receiver of Muenda Fair Trade gifts to learn more about the world in which we live, who you are benefiting and where the gift was made.

We at Muenda believe in education, however "formal" or 'informal' as a way to understand our world and learn how we are all interdependant with one another and the natural environment.

Please shop with us online, or visit us at the Historic City Market in downtown Charleston, SC to support Fair trade and help us make our world a better place.

 Thanks! Peace!

Susie and Paul Dolphin