May 28, 2020
Joanna Maiden, or Jo, as her friends call her is a British entrepreneur currently living in Kenya with her husband and 3 kids. 11 years ago she founded Soko Kenya, an ethical clothing factory and Community Trust. Her passion for ethical and sustainable fashion that had taken root before it was even in the mainstream talk, propelled her to establish her factory on the pillars of transparency on the production process, fair wages for employees and an overall favourable environment for both her artisans and the surrounding community.
In the progressing years, Joanna set up a SOKO Community Trust that gave the artisans and other members of the local community a chance to improve on their skills and acquire new ones.The Trust runs projects like computer literacy classes, money management classes for the artisans, education on HIV/AIDS and family planning and making and distribution of re-usable sanitary pads. In the distribution of these pads to local schools, social education on menstruation, relationships and sex is given to both boys and girls to try and eradicate some cultural vices such as early pregnancy and the shame that comes with menstruation.
In this episode, Jenny and Joanna talk about Joanna’s journey to such an incredible establishment that has ethical and sustainable fashion at the heart of its birth and growth. They further talk about the authentic projects such as making and distribution of sanitary pads and the social education offered by her foundation around the subjects of menstruation, relationships and sex for both boys and girls. Be encouraged this week that the small positive changes you are making are on the road map to creating great change!