Profile
Yewo Collective
Yewo was founded in 2018 as a purpose-driven social enterprise to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges faced in rural Northern Malawi, Africa. Rooted in community, we design and craft jewelry at our solar-powered workshop,… Yewo was founded in 2018 as a purpose-driven social enterprise to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges faced in rural Northern Malawi, Africa. Rooted in community, we design and craft jewelry at our solar-powered workshop, celebrating those who make it and those who wear it. By investing in the people behind our products, we work to eradicate generational poverty in Northern Malawi by providing equitable on-the-job training, ethical manufacturing, and living wages 3-4x higher than minimum wage with holistic social benefits. Yewo profits are invested into the local community through educational scholarships and teacher sponsorship. In addition, with every Yewo item sold, we partner with a women's permaculture group in Northern Malawi to plant 3 trees in your honor.
Maddy McAllister
Our Story
With a background in International Development, I first visited Malawi, a small landlocked country in South-East Africa, in 2012. After spending time in the northern part of the country, it became clear that although this isolated area was… With a background in International Development, I first visited Malawi, a small landlocked country in South-East Africa, in 2012. After spending time in the northern part of the country, it became clear that although this isolated area was geographically stunning, the rural location also meant a lack of economic opportunities, leaving many families unable to meet their basic needs, continuing the cycle of generational poverty. This kind of inequality did not seem fair— people were ready to work but there were simply no jobs available. Arriving back to the US, I kept thinking of the people I had met in those mountains of Northern Malawi. Until one day, I got the courage to buy a one way flight to Malawi to learn from and invest in the local community by creating jobs through Yewo
