Mission
To enable persons with physical disabilities to overcome their limitations by empowering them economically and socially so that they become fully integrated members of their communities .

HISTORY

Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Center is a project of the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK). Bombolulu is located in Mombasa , off the Mombasa-Malindi highway at Bombolulu. Since 1968, the artisans have clearly demonstrated the ability to combat poverty through the creation and trading in handicrafts.

The Jewellery workshop was the first workshop to be set up and today, it has a production capacity of over 150,000 units per annum. Most products are hand made. Every month over 500 different designs are made of components such as bone products, soapstone, brass, seeds, copper, wood, semi precious stones, and recycled materials among others. The recycled products made from soda cans and bottle tops serves as a clear evidence of the project\s great concern for the environment. All the recycled cans are beautiful crafted into brooches, Christmas decorations, bracelets and necklaces.

Woodcarving started in 1989 and produces a variety of decorative and utilitarian carvings. The products range from animal figures, masks, salad spoons, belts, buckles, wooden buttons, and nativity sets. This workshop has a production capacity of 40,000 units per year and boasts of a skill second to none in flexible animals (snakes, fish and crocodiles ideal for toys and decorations.) Over 70% of the carvings produced are made from 'good woods' (sustainable woods) such as neem, mango, coconut, prosopis juliflora, and casuarina .

Tailoring workshop was set up in 1987. It depicts a range of textile products - screen printed fashion wear, table clothes, napkins, table mats, wall hanging based on traditional motifs. The workshop has also revealed the ability to marry the ethnic designs with the fashion trends of this country. Other productions are like embroidery and appliqué. The workshop has a production capacity of 24, 000 unit items per annum .

The leather workshop was started in 1990, and has a workforce of 8 artisans with a production capacity of 7,000 units per year. The collection includes belts, sandals, handbags, brief cases, tablemats, backpacks, canvas bags among others. The workshop uses genuine leather obtained from local tanneries, which mainly uses hides from cattle and goats.

IMPACT

Today, in addition to monthly salaries and piece rate earnings, Bombolulu employees receive benefits such as free housing on the organization's land. Others are housing allowances, an in-house clinic and medical scheme with subsidized costs, trade union membership, an employee managed cooperative to provide loans, and a school fees support programme. The disabled employee usually becomes the main wage-earner in the family and is able to support his or her children through schooling.

AFILIATION 

Fair Trade is based on dialogue, partnership, transparency and respect. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers, especially in the South. It is an alternative business and trade mechanism that aims to empower producers in developing countries and lobby against the current unfair business practices of the industrialized world.

PARTNERS

Polio Hilfe Kenia,Germany

SERVV International, USA

Traidcraft, UK

CTM, Italy

Solidar Monde, France

Dritte Welt, Germany

AkzenteGermany

Oxfam

Fair Trade CompanyJapan, Netherlands

Ten Thousand Villages,USA

Barbara Wilson