The Afrika Handmade 2016 Symposium offers a unique opportunity for the sharing of ideas and resources among artisans and designers in the handmade sector.

The symposium emerged from Jumpstart Thursday, a much smaller monthly forum that we started in 2012. There was a need to create a platform for peer to peer exchange. Too often, we found situations where one entity – for example government- knew nothing of what was happening on the ground, and vice versa.

It became apparent that there was also a need to create a networking forum to allow the exchange of ideas, resources and information, not only among the various organizational entities, but among artisans and designers as well.

The program below is in draft and therefore likely to change. What will not change however, is our consistency in facilitating interactive, meaningful discussions.

You can register for the symposium here.

DateOverall topicPresentation titleSpeakerTime
1 OctoberWelcome and overview of symposiumChristine Gitau9 - 9.15am
Production The Social Enterprise: Working With a Triple BottomlineSammy Makau - Sales & Marketing manager, Kazuri Beads9.15 - 9.45am
Discover Gearbox: The Open space for Design and PrototypingKamau Gachigi - Executive Director, Gearbox9.45 - 10.15am
Outsourcing Production: The Challenges and OpportunitiesKatungulu Mwendwa - Fashion designer & owner, MOFTI store10.15 - 10.45
Open discussion/Q&A10.45- 11.30am
Tea break11.30 - 12noon
Practical skills workshopDefining Your Customer: Who are you really selling to?Larrissa Muthoni - Founder, Zamoyo 12 - 1pm
Lunch break1 - 2pm
DistributionThe Science of Retail: What You Might Not Know But ShouldMark Stephenson - CEO, Sandstorm2.00 - 2.30pm
Global Markets: Where are the Top Export Destinations for Handmade Products?Ruth Mwaniki - CEO, EPC2.30 - 3.00pm
AGOA: Gaining Access to US Markets Zohra Baraka - Chair, AWEP3.00 - 3.30pm
Open discussion/Q&A3.30 - 4.30pm
Tea break & depart4.30pm
2 OctoberRecap of previous day9 - 9.15am
Branding and Intellectual PropertyCreate a Powerful Brand Through StorytellingKen Oloo - Founder Filamu Juani9.15 - 9.45am
Copyright 101: Practical Steps to Take When Infringement OccursLiz Lenjo - IP lawyer9.45 - 10.15am
Interactive discussion/Q&A10.15 - 11am
Tea break11 - 11.30am
Practical Skills OwrkshopPricing for Profit: How to Calculate Your Optimal Price Points Duncan Turere - MSME financial consultant11.30 - 12.30pm
The Building Blocks to Credit Worthiness Amal Mohamed - Project coordinator, HEVA Fund12.30 - 1pm
Lunch breakLunch break1 - 2pm
Open SpacesExploring Collaborative Opportunities: What I Have, What I Need2 - 3.30pm
Articulating Way Forward and Commitments3.30 - 4pm
Tea break, evaluations and depart4 - 4.30pm