Ghana - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Kakra Sombo is a business which incorporates the concept of sustainability using locally sourced materials, eco-friendly production methods and recycling into the production of crafted bags and clothes. Used glass and fabric waste are major materials.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Kakra Sombo which translates as 'a little means more' in Akan is a culturally and sustainably motivated fashion business which employs the use of glass and fabric waste in the production of fashion items. The glass is used for making beads which are crafted by the traditional Krobo bead makers and used for beaded bags. The fabric pieces come from kente 'a traditionally hand-woven cloth' scraps from various sewing shops and fashion houses which are then joined and dyed with botanical dyes to create outfits and more. Traditional cultural expressions such as indigenously crafted beads and Kente make up our national heritage and it is important to preserve them. Our business employs sustainability principles from the materials acquisition through to the business dealings including the preservation of cultural heritage through sustainability which is highlighted by UNESCO. The aim is to create a circularity in line with the UN's sustainable development goals.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

According to research, there has been an extinction of the traditional glass bead makers in the Ashanti region who use glass waste as their main material component, due to factors such as lack of support, marketing and collaboration. Now those in the eastern region, who also face similar challenges could also have large portions of its beadmaking industry depleted . Cultural heritage preservation is part of allowing generations to know and understand their roots. Also, Kente which takes months to weave into a full cloth has gone ahead to generate loads of waste in various fashion shops that often burn the pieces they find invaluable. Our business would be a place to convert these disguised gems into profitable fashion items. Beaded bags from beads and clothes. Our business would facilitate collaborations between indigenous artisans and us the contemporary designers to create unique fusion products that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

-The materials are made by craftmen in rural communities and go a long way to give them extra revenue. - Workers to be employed in the production line would mostly be women with hearing impairment after a collaboration with 'deaf can talk' a foundation for deaf people in Accra. - The sense of patronizng a culturally motivated and sustainable product.  -Be it clothes or beaded bags from locally made beads, which there have been non so far, gives the user the experience of Portraying sustainable practices giving the user the instinct that recycling or upcycling does not need to be big to be achieved - Buying our product also means you are contributing to sustainable development since we employ practices which gives us a circularity status.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

- Traditional heritage lovers - especially women who buy into the concept of sustainable products and production - International audience through our website

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-02-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Nana Adjoa Egyin-Boadu is a fashion entrepreneur who produces sustainable fashion items from leather scraps. She also has some experience with local and international exhibitions.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Our business creates jobs for craft makers from the rural community as well as deaf women in the suburb who would be involved in the assembling and finishing of works.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Creating a livelihood and a source of income for people allows them to afford the basic need like food and shelter.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Having a good source of income gives privileges such as being able to afford medical care and living in better environments.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Aside the work the company would provide, there may be few session which would be geered towards teaching some life skills to help young female workers expand their knowledge.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

About 80 percent of workers would be women. this is because of their flare in the sewing and beading space.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Since we hope to make the business fit in a circular economy, we would employ sustainable water management practices as our little contribution to the SDGs.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our business would employ solar, biogas and other renewable energy sources which would reduce the presure with non renewable energy.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Work offered by our company stays true to the mandates of the company which is making bags and specific clothes which provides a good source of income with some other incentives for workers.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our business is novel in the sense that we make items of which the said recycled materials are often not used in making locally.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Our business doesn't just need women but is welcoming women with hearing impairment as well since our production line may not include too much verbal communication.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

We hope to employ sustainable practices such as using solar panels for our workshops while employing waste segregation. Our digital presence would also include sustainable hosting sites for our websites and other practices to reduce carbon emissions. Our breadmakers we would also educate on sustainable practices in the baking of the beads and suggest the use of charcoal briquettes from coconut waste, which we could source instead of cutting down trees for firewood.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

With sustainability in the forefront of our business, we would adopt policies and strategies to keep our business' sustainability in check.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our activities would leave a good carbon footprint hence affecting climate.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Our thirst for sustainability cuts across and would indirectly affect this section too.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

In our contribution for this goal, our beadmakers who employ felling trees to light their kilns for baking th glass fragments for beads would have a source to provide them with charcoal briquettes from a sustainable source. this would reduce the number of trees which is felled for the production process

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Our business would provide a safe haven for workers to thrive while their concerns would also be addressed

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

our business would serve as a clear example of a business with a 360 circularity. We would partner with governmental entities such as the Ghana entrepreneurship agency, AFCFTA, Ghana export agency and others to allow us to be used as examples for companies who embody the concept of sustainability wholely. With businesses with sustainable motives like ours who could be our partners.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

3

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Making beaded bags from locally made beads is not yet known rather beaded bags from imported plastic beads is what is known. This is because the beads often done here are large but we would opt for smaller moulds for this purpose. Using tye and dye techniques on cloth made from kente scraps and then converting them into wearables is also novel.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Our main competitors for the beaded bags are the plastic beaded bag makers and other bag makers who employ different materials. Our bags would be made of glass, since the beads are from waste glass. this would give it a feel of luxury. Our kente scraps cloth dyed with botanical dyes would also be made into jackets, shirts etc and would be made to sell itself by its looks and feel.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes! As a student currently completing an MPhil in intellectual property, I have done different advocacy sessions for women entrepreneurs. I also currently belong to an all female entrepreneurship cooperation where we share and promote entreprenuership and oher business practices and experiences.