Step down from the top table and Ask a Lioness!

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“Those with the least resources have the least capacity to adapt and are the most vulnerable.”

“Almost 80% of the respondents…foresee at least 2.5C of global heating, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit would be met. Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.” - according to a large survey done of hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists (see here) who make up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Salma Bougarrani, a water management change-maker in Morocco

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer GREEN WATECH (Morocco)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

GREEN WATECH, a Morocco-based company with a low-tech solution for wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigating vegetables destined for human consumption

Salma Bougarrani is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GREEN WATECH, a Social Enterprise founded in 2018, and specializing in decentralized sanitation. Salma holds a PhD in Advanced Water Treatment Process from Med V University (Morocco), and Leipzig University (Germany). She worked as a project manager for "Women in Water Field" at Peking International University. In 2015, Salma joined the Institute of Chemical Technology, Leipzig University in Germany, as a researcher. Salma has been involved in several international projects in collaboration with teams from Malatya University and NIBEC Institute. Salma is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and she works as an expert consultant at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Amirah Adam, an entrepreneur building a textile print design business where art meets fashion in Mozambique

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Amirah Adam, founder, Mira La Mira (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Amirah Adam is the founder of the company Mira La Mira, a textile print design brand launched in 2018 in Mozambique. She is the winner of several financing awards and the Mozal & Kulungwana award. Since the age of 16, she has worked in the digital arts field, and has extensive experience in communication design, photography, and advertising. She has also worked in alternative areas such as business management. She completed her degree in Mozambique and her master's degree in Portugal, where the Mira La Mira brand was born. The business has created jobs for 4 people.

What have you got to lose?

March 22, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

The UK’s BII recently released their Emerging Economies Climate Report 2023, and the results from the 2023 survey of senior executives working across their large and impressive portfolio of companies and funds, were not good, although did confirm what we are seeing across and hearing from our membership at the coal face (a decent metaphor, we think) of climate change.

Dércia Marta Massilele, a Mozambican entrepreneur creating an innovative and affordable solution to waste management

March 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Dércia Marta Massilele, co-founder & manager, COSEL-Colecta Selectiva (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Dércia Marta Massilele is the co-founder and manager of COSEL-Colecta Selectiva, a waste management startup launched in 2019 and based in Maputo, creating jobs for five people. It’s main activity focuses on providing collection and treatment services for recyclable and common waste. Using motorless tricycles and promoting environmental awareness, Dércia and her team offer an innovative and affordable solution for micro-enterprises and private establishments.

Lioness Launch / Environmental consultancy, Redes de Luxo e Servicos in Mozambique, launches an accessory range created from recycled fishing nets

March 10, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Mozambican environmental consultancy, Redes de Luxo e Servicos, founded by Carla Mahumane, aims to contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems through female and community empowerment. The business has launched a new product line of accessories and clothing using recycled fishing nets. The business is not only providing an environmental solution to the problem of discarded fishing nets, but is also upskilling local women and girls. Redes de Luxo e Servicos has also developed training programmes for women and girls in cutting and sewing techniques and weaving fishing nets to produce accessories such as bags, earrings, necklaces, wallets, and clothes from the reuse of discarded fishing nets.

Sylvia Omina Otsieno, a Kenyan jewellery brand builder with impact

March 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Omina Otsieno, an innovative fashion brand in Kenya, renowned for its distinctive jewellery crafted from banana fibre.

Sylvia Omina Otsieno is the founder and creative director of Omina Otsieno, an innovative fashion brand in Kenya, renowned for its distinctive jewellery crafted from banana fibre. Born and raised between Nairobi and Busia, Sylvia's formative years in Busia ignited her passion for crafting, where she found abundant materials at her disposal. Inspired by her familial heritage of creativity, including her mother's adeptness at crocheting and her grandparents' tradition of weaving handcrafted baskets for livelihood, Sylvia began her journey of artistic expression. Driven by a steadfast commitment to social impact and artistic innovation, Sylvia continues to redefine the boundaries of fashion entrepreneurship, inspiring change not only in the lives of individuals but also within their communities. The business has created jobs for 17 local people.

Hleziphi Siyothula–Mtshizana, a South African renewable energy pioneer

February 18, 2024 Melanie Hawken

In Pursuit Renewable Energy, a sustainability-focused South African project development, energy efficiency and alternative power solutions business

Hleziphi Siyothula–Mtshizana is an Electrical Engineer and seasoned Energy Professional with almost 16 years’ experience in delivering small to utility scale infrastructure projects with a focus on Renewable Energy. Her business, In Pursuit Renewable Energy in South Africa was formed in 2017 and today has 8 employees. Hleziphi is a former Senior Project Manager within Arup’s Renewables team overseeing a Lender’s Technical Advisory (LTA) team taking Renewables (Solar/Wind) projects from bid submission, Financial Close and Commercial Operation, Construction Monitoring and Operations Monitoring. She was also a former Technical Manager in the IPP sector developing greenfield projects and leading projects in the C&I space. She has developed and delivered over 3000MW of Renewables projects (Solar, Hydro, Wind Battery Energy Storage) in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and UK. Hleziphi also held leadership roles such as COO of Bonang Power & Energy, Principal for Matt&Co Advisory, Arup Education Trust Trustee, the COO for the SunElex Group and Project Development Team Lead for TASEZ Gas to Energy Project. She is also a mother of 3 Daughters, Skills Development Facilitator, Conference Speaker and Moderator.

Lilian Mapuranga, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a chemical company focused on green growth

January 27, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Mapuranga, co-founder & COO, Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Lilian Mapuranga is the co-founder and COO of Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd a chemical company focused on cleaning and sanitation chemicals. She is an MBA and Chemist with over 13 years industry experience and 4 years in the sanitation industry. Lilian was awarded as a TechWomen Emerging Leader 2014 (Hillary Clinton STEM Initiatives in Silicon Valley), was a ZimTrade EagleNest Top 22 Qualifier. Before Lilian became an entrepreneur, she was a business development manager at Integrated Hygiene Systems. Her tasks were oriented towards developing business, looking for new markets and increasing sales. Her focus was in change management and meeting customer satisfaction, something she has adopted into her own business and has helped her shape Chemexon.

Francine Munyaneza, a Rwandan green energy impact-maker

January 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Munyax Eco, a solar power business creating access to clean and affordable energy in East Africa

With a master’s degree in business and administration and 15 years of experience globetrotting, Francine Munyaneza skilfully managed operations in international private organizations and later in the humanitarian sector. Her accumulated expertise led her to return to Rwanda and establish Munyax Eco in 2013, an impact focused solar energy company. Through Munyax Eco’s endeavours, she has positively impacted nearly 1,000,000 beneficiaries, reduced carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons annually, and importantly created 30 permanent jobs and over 100 temporary jobs. Notably, the majority of Munyax Eco’s staff and beneficiaries are women.

Yeelen Khan, a Mozambican edupreneur making learning moments joyful for children

December 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Yeelen Khan, founder, MJAY Criações (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Yeelen Khan is a Mozambican entrepreneur and the founder of MJAY Criações which launched in January 2022. MJAY is a company that creates and sells educational resources for children, with the aim of making learning moments joyful and light. MJAY has 2 workers and has partnerships for distribution in Maputo, Nacala and Beira. MJAY has an online store that can be accessed at www.mjaycriacoes.co.mz.

Iara Muchanga, a Mozambican jewellery and accessory designer focused on sustainability through recycling

December 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Iara Muchanga, founder, FERMU (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Iara Muchanga is the founder of FERMU, a sustainable Mozambican jewellery and accessory brand founded in 2022 that is faithful to its identity and its passion for reducing the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry. Iara’s work is focused on sustainability, creating accessories from recycled solid waste such as fish carcasses, shells, cardboard plastic bottles, etc.

South African leading sustainable luxury product design brand, The Joinery, strikes gold at the Eco-Logical Awards

November 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Awards & Accolades

The South African sustainable luxury product design brand, The Joinery, based in the Cape Winelands and founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, has just been recognised as a gold award winner at the Eco-Logical Awards. The brand picked up the Gold Eco-Logic Award in the Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle category, sponsored by Pick n’ Pay Clothing. This latest accolade is a testament to the Joinery team’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. Renowned for its beautifully designed range of sustainable products, use of responsible fabrics, and ethical production, The Joinery has won fans around the world for many years for its passionate belief in being kind to our planet and fair to our people, one plastic bottle at a time.

Josephine Sidambe, a South African sustainability change-maker

November 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Ingqwele Consulting & Projects Managements Pty Ltd, a sustainability consulting business driving transformative change in South Africa

Josephine Sidambe is a visionary, achiever, and change maker, and the founder of Ingqwele Consulting & Projects Managements Pty Ltd in South Africa which was launched in 2013. As a dynamic agent of change in the world of sustainability consulting, Josephine has continuously pushed the boundaries of continuous improvements. She has an insatiable passion for sustainable solutions and unwavering commitment to reducing the climate change impact. She has contributed to the reduction of carbon footprint in the sustainability consulting industry through leadership and motivation to adopt green sustainable projects. With 25 years of professional work experience, of which 7 years are in the field of sustainability consulting, Josephine has harnessed her expertise to drive transformative change. As a senior sustainability consultant in the business, she leads with vision and tuning challenges into opportunities.

Chinenye Macuacua, a Mozambican entrepreneur building an upcycling fashion business with style

November 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Chinenye Macuacua, founder, Powa Clothing (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Chinenye Macuacua is the visionary founder of Powa Clothing in Mozambique, a company dedicated to the art of upcycling, breathing new life into discarded clothing while also crafting fresh garments from dead stock fabrics. She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in 2018, immediately after completing high school. Chinenye has been the driving force behind her one-woman business for five years, demonstrating both her passion for sustainability and her creative prowess. Her dreams extend beyond her solo venture, aspiring to build a community of empowered, eco-conscious fashion enthusiasts who share her commitment to breathe new life into the old. Specializing in the transformation of men's suits, Chinenye is drawn to the empowering aura that suits exude. This attraction fuels her dedication to upcycling this iconic clothing item, infusing it with renewed purpose and style. As Powa Clothing thrives, Chinenye envisions expansion, aiming to inspire and mentor young women, passing on her passion for upcycling.

Gladys Chibanda, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur transforming waste into eco-friendly packaging and stationery

October 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Gladys Chibanda, founder, Krafted Ink (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Gladys Chibanda, founder of Krafted Ink in Zimbabwe, is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to merging sustainability and culture. With a mission to combat textile waste and promote cultural diversity, Krafted Ink transforms discarded textiles into eco-friendly gift packaging and stationery, celebrating the rich heritage of African fabrics. Gladys's leadership propels the company towards a greener, culturally enriched future, one product at a time.

Lioness Launch / South African upcycling business, plasticity, launches its latest new range of brandable products

October 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Tessa O’ Halloran, founder, plasticity (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

The need to find sustainable solutions to transforming discarded plastic waste into useful products has never been greater. Discarded plastic waste is a problem for the planet and for humankind as a whole. South African ecopreneur Tessa O’ Halloran, founder of plasticity, is playing her part in finding those solutions and has launched a new range of upcycled products in the form of brandable key tags and fridge magnets!

Stélia Dgedge, a Mozambican entrepreneur creating access to clean drinking water

October 8, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Stélia Dgedge, founder, Khuwana Water Filters Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Stélia Dgedge is the founder of Khuwana Water Filters Lda, a Mozambican company dedicated to the production and sale of ceramic-based water purifying filters. She has a degree in Financial and Insurance Management from ISCTEM. Since very early on, she has always been interested in topics related to preservation, sustainability, and the environment. About five years ago Stélia was invited to be part of the Finance Department of a startup that operates in the Renewable Energy sector. It was a unique opportunity for her to demonstrate once again the knowledge obtained at the associated University and her professional experience, as she came from a company with over twenty years in the market and was well positioned in it. She discovered her purpose - a mixture of three words, “Entrepreneurship, Impact, and Sustainability”.

Omoh Alokwe, an environmental management change-maker in Nigeria

October 8, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Street Waste Company Limited, a community recycling enterprise empowering women and youth in the urban slums of Lagos

Omoh Alokwe is the co-founder at Street Waste Company Limited in Nigeria. She is an Environmental Sustainability professional certified as an ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor. She has a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She has over six years’ experience in environmental sustainability and waste management. As the co-founder and chief technical officer at Street Waste Company, Omoh ensures the company attain its goals and objectives. The business started its operations in 2019 and today employs 15 people. Through her leadership, over 150 women and youth in underserved communities have been empowered, diverted over 2000,000kg of recyclables from getting to the landfill, and educated over 1000 individuals on waste recycling.

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