Vikapu Bomba (VB), meaning "Fantastic Baskets" in Swahili, is a social enterprise dedicated to economic empowerment, founded in 2011 and formally registered in 2015. VB collaborates with marginalised, previously unemployed rural women artisans in the communities of Iringa and Njombe, located in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. They currently employ over 300 women full-time, focusing on the design and production of handwoven fashion and home décor baskets. Their products are crafted from "Milulu," a sustainable local reed grass that flourishes along the streams of the Southern Highlands.

For generations, basket weaving has been a traditional craft in these communities. However, due to poverty, lack of markets, and limited opportunities, this skill was at risk of being lost. Understanding this context, and driven by a strong belief in the transformative power of women working together, Catherine, our Founder and Managing Director, established Vikapu Bomba as a means to revitalize this valuable tradition.