KICK Trading Ltd.

KICK Trading (Kisumu Innovation Centre of Kenya) is a registered company with artisans, staff and supporters holding shares. KICK Trading is based in Kisumu, a city of 800,000 with high unemployment and underemployment. Kisumu has a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, which affects many artisans and their families. KICK Trading focuses on creating employment and income generation opportunities for Kenyan artisans, working with disadvantaged artisans, and connecting artisans to global markets on fair trade terms. Artisans hold 20 percent of the company’s shares. Additional benefits include loans for school fees or emergencies, training, counseling, product development and design help and access to global markets. Some 70 percent of products are made from recycled material, including recycled wire, sheet metal, wrought iron, water hyacinth rope, papyrus, soda cans and waste paper.