Our Story

Shanga was founded in 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania when a local resident made a handful of fabric necklaces for a Christmas Fair.. Combining local fabric with beads and her sons' marbles, she created a unique necklace that sold out within hours. The days after the fair were busy with - orders coming in for the necklaces from safari companies and gift shops. Shanga, the Swahili word for bead, was born.

The demand for the necklaces opened up the opportunity for a local deaf woman to gain employment, initially working from a backyard. Demand for the necklace continued and soon the first Shanga workshop was established. The Shanga range of products was expanded, utilising recycled and sustainable materials where possible, and the project was opened for people to come and meet the staff and purchase products on-site.

From its humble beginnings, Shanga has grown into a self-sustaining social enterprise training and employing 34 people with disabilities to produce creative products including weaving, glass blowing, beading, paper making and metal work, using recycled materials wherever possible. 

Our staff happily have a beautiful and safe working space where they can continue to demonstrate their abilities to visitors from around the world.

Our Philosophy

Throughout Shanga’s journey, the heart of our message, “Be kind and recycle” remains.

Shanga’s aim is not only to provide employment opportunities to those that need them most but also to remove the stigma that people with disabilities often face in East Africa. By providing a safe and supportive environment, and employment opportunities, Shanga is providing an opportunity for those that have previously been marginalized by society a chance to contribute to their families and community.

When visiting Shanga the focus of “ability over disability” is in evidence everywhere. Of no lesser importance is making amazing products from discarded materials so that we can contribute positively to the sensitive Tanzanian environment while producing creative pieces that celebrate Tanzanian culture.

Meet Our People

Meet some of our inspiring staff who make Shanga so special. Hover over the images to read each of their stories.

Aminipa was born a happy, healthy baby in Iringa, Tanzania. At the age of three, she fell into a fire-pit too deep for her to climb out of. When her mother found her, Aminipa had lost both of her hands.

Aminipa faced discrimination during her childhood, and was turned away from schools in her area due to her disabilities. As an adult, she has worked through her physical challenges to creatively function in life, managing a busy household of four children. She says that you never really get used to being disabled, but you find your own way to get things done.

Aminipa is talented in tailoring and beading, and joined the Shanga team in 2015. Her job at Shanga enables Aminipa's independence and provides her children with the education she never had.

Rajabu was born with hearing disability in 1989 at Kilimanjaro Tanzania. He managed to study and completed his secondary education in 2012. Due to his hearing challenge and lack of equipment like hearing aids he did not do very well in school and hence failed to continue with higher education.

After secondary education he stayed at home doing domestic work to assist his parents as he could not get a job.

He heard about Shanga back in 2016 and decided to bring his application letter. Luckily he was selected to join Shanga as a bead maker and also got a chance to be trained for glass blowing. Rajabu is now a pro bead maker and an upcoming glass artist

Angelina was born deaf to a family of four siblings in the village of Mtombu, bordering the Serengeti plains of Tanzania.

As a child Angelina was supported by a close community, but as the only deaf person in her village was unable to communicate with anyone except her mother.

Angelina attended a special school for the deaf and received a primary education as an older child. Here she learnt Tanzanian sign-language which enabled her to communicate with friends for the first time.

During her time at school, Angelina met and befriended one of Shanga's original employees and decided to seek employment for herself. Angelina is a skilled tailor and one of our longest serving staff members.

Daniel is from a large Arusha family of nine children, and one of three siblings that were born deaf.

Daniel is bright and educated, he was fortunate to receive primary and secondary education at a special school for the deaf. After school Daniel returned home to Arusha to work as a builder, before hearing about Shanga from a friend. He joined the Shanga team in 2009, quickly becoming one of our star glass and metal workers.

Daniel feels passionately for the need to advocate and support people with disabilities in Tanzania. He chooses to work for Shanga because he believes that educating visitors about the needs and abilities of people with disabilities in his country will help raise awareness worldwide.

Upendo was born deaf, but this never held her back. The only girl among four siblings, Upendo grew up in the green and fertile Kilimanjaro mountains of Tanzania.

Upendo received limited education as a child, but as a young adult undertook a vocational weaving program. Proactive and determined, Upendo applied to Shanga and joined the weaving team at 23 years old. It was a decision that impacted not just her professional life, but also her personal life.

Upendo and her now-husband, Livingstone, met at Shanga. During lunch breaks and leisurely walks home Upendo and Livingstone, who is also deaf, fell in love. The couple married in 2015 and now their Shanga employment supports their healthy baby girl.