Your cart

About Us


It all started when, at seventeen, I was struck with this realization: people are dying by the millions just because they don't have enough to eat. If this was going to continue happening in our world, it wasn't going to be because I didn't do anything about it, so as a restless and passionate high school senior, I founded BADALA as a fundraising organization. 

When I traveled to Africa for the first time, I befriended women who were prostituting themselves just to feed their children. Instead of asking for hand outs, everyone I met was looking for opportunities. Our line of jewelry and accessories, and later our housewares, was born out of this request for employment.

Since launching in Kenya, we have since expanded our employment programs to women and artisans across East Africa, Central America, and domestic sex trafficking survivors.

Thank you for joining us in this journey to see poverty and sex trafficking ended!

Joelle McNamara
Founder