Raddie Nyamwaya
Interests
I have always had a passion for sustainability and its relation to fashion as I feel that this is a conversation that we as Africa have to have. The global north plagued by fast fashion has made the global south its dumping ground and while these might be more affordable options to clothing there has arisen a sense of saturation. The fashion industry is one of the most poisonous to the planet. I started a sustainable fashion business to be able to share the effects of fast fashion and the textile industry while also providing an outlet for local markets to grow. Part of my mission has also been to highlight African stories and reframe the African narrative told by colonial and post-colonial historians through visual activism.
Educational/training highlights
I’ve had the amazing opportunity to grow up on our family farm and witness my parents pass down whatever knowledge they can gather about cultural practices and our actions and how they impact the planet. I’ve learnt value chains, value addition, land management, collaboration and cross-culture learning etc from them. This interest propelled me into taking on an internship at Woodland Valley Farm in Cornwall, Zumulaa Farm in Lukenya and come next year, Mwasama School in Tanzania and hopefully The Hudson River in the US. Most of my experiences have greatly been informal and based off of amazing interactions with amazing people who cause for the planet and so I hope to also undertake a bit of formal education next year.
Knowledge signposts
Why I joined EmGen
I really selfishly wanted to join a community of other young members who share similar ideas and interests. It just so happens that Emergent Generation, fortunately, were the best at proving a space for young people to thrive and share their ideas and concerns and so it feels like home with the homies.
How I can support other members
I encourage any members to reach out and share what ways they would love to be supported. Be it sharing an experience, hosting a person on the farm, a zoom meeting, exchange ideas and knowledge etc. Only through creating an inter-web of community, knowledge and understanding can we best support each other in our similar efforts.
My next steps
I would love to connect more with members, get advice on what I’m doing right or wrong. Make a few more friends and continue being a member of this amazing community.
Raddie Nyamwaya
Currently self-employed running a sustainable family business - our family farm Arboretum KaJok’ Oby while at the same time running a sustainable fashion and home decor business under it -Haossar. I’m also a member of Barbets Duet - a collective of likeminded individuals striving to reclaim agro-ecological function on our various pieces of land we call sites. Also employed as a project manager for a program that empowers women in marginalised communities in Kisumu, Kenya. https://www.instagram.com/kajokoby?igsh=ZGlodWJ6Z24xYXht - family farm. Farming a
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