Africa

5 UK companies making a difference in Africa 

By Will Adoasi, Vitae London 

More and more businesses are putting ‘making a difference’ at their heart, and the UK is particularly strong in this area. For example, many UK companies are actively supporting people in Africa. Here are five great businesses that have incorporated social impact directly into their business models:

Sunmo Snacks 

Having recently landed a contract with Selfridges, this start-up creates plantain-based hand-cooked snacks that are absolutely delicious, 100% natural, and suitable for all; whether you’re vegan, living gluten free, or just ravenous. Every pack of Sunmo you buy provides a meal for an orphaned child in Nigeria – the country that inspired their plantain obsession.

Website: https://www.sunmosnacks.com/

Vitae London

Established in 2016 and endorsed by Richard Branson, Vitae is Latin for life and they’re the watch brand changing lives. With every watch Vitae London donates a solar lamp to a child in Sub-Saharan Africa meaning they don’t have to travel for hours or burn harmful fuels to study in the evening. Vitae has recently launched its new Elmington Range on Kickstarter so you can help an African child and own a beautiful watch ahead of everyone else and with over 50% off. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vitaelondon/elmington-watch/

GiveMeTap 

This brand makes reusable water bottles – with a difference. Every bottle sold provides clean drinking water, for five years, to someone living in Africa. For every bottle sold, they donate directly to their NGO partners in Africa to install pumps in rural communities. 

Website: https://www.givemetap.com

Dapaah Chocolates
Keeping up with family traditions, this sibling trio noticed that despite producing as much as 20% of the world’s global supply of cocoa, Ghana does not have a single chocolate brand that is internationally recognised. With profits from their sales they are aiming to build a sustainable chocolate factory in rural Ghana. This will help add value to Ghana’s cocoa economy, create new jobs, opportunities, and better wages for local cocoa farming communities.

Website: https://www.dapaahchocolates.co.uk/

Kaleidoscope Beauty 

The jewellery brand with philanthropy at its heart. Their unique pieces are hand-made by Kenyan artisans determined to turn their lives around. From young mothers, to reformed criminals and street boys, Kaleidescope gives them the right tools, training and an opportunity for a career, and a sustainable source of income.

Website: https://kaleidoscopebeauty.co.uk

By buying through these companies you are not just supporting entrepreneurs in the UK, you are actively and tangibly making a difference to people in Africa – and it doesn’t cost you a penny extra. What’s not to love?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Will Adoasi is a social entrepreneur and founder of Vitae London, an ethical watch brand that offers fashionable, quality watches at affordable prices. Within the company’s DNA is the desire to advance social justice. 

Vitae London works within several Sub-Saharan African provinces to help give children access to education. For example, with every watch sold from the new Elmington collection a child is gifted a Solar Lamp from local charity Pen to Paper Ghana. This means the children don’t have to travel for hours or burn harmful fuels in order to study in the evenings.  

Web | https://www.vitaelondon.com

Twitter | https://twitter.com/vitaelondon

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/vitaelondon

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vitaelondon/

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/vitae-london