"Bosinange Jua Kali soapstone is a private limited group that deals with soapstone carvings (Arts), which are handcrafted by the Kisii artisans and sold locally and internationally to help them to alleviate poverty and improve their livelihood.
The group was started in late 1980s under the management of the late Mr. James Matoke Oino with few artisans so as to meet their daily needs. As years went by the business began to grow as the management was able to produce good quality products, a factor order both in local & international markets. Later in the year 2001 the founder of the business died and the business was inherited by a group of orphans, who changed the name of the business to Bosinange Jua Kali Soapstone Group which is 18 years old now.
The name Bosinange was the most suitable name because it is a place where the group is found and most of the activities are carried out around the area, In addition Jua Kali is a Swahili word which means the products are hand made and not machine made.
The mission of the group is to make sure poverty is alleviated, employment is increased thus living standards are improved. Vision is to help the needy orphans and train them to be self reliance, and to look for better markets for their products.
Bosinange Jua kali group deals with a variety of high quality soapstone carvings products which can be purchased from their showroom at Tabaka, Nyabigege along Kisii – Migori road. Also products can be purchased at the Netherlands shops, Australia Pty limited company, African excel in U.S.A, promo studio (Italy) and many other shops worldwide.
The artisans are provided with a large shade (working place) which is well ventilated, clean water, food, apron, masks, and a glass of milk to quench their thirst after work. Also the group provides its workers with free medical care.
Fair trade is an advocacy to justice to producers and buyers in worldwide trade to give prizes for the products in the trade chain.
Fair trade has promoted social justice within Bosinange JuaKali Soapstone. Thereby increasing market opportunities, discouraged child labor and increased employment opportunities, as well as seeing to it that workers get a fair price.
Bosinange is an environmental friendly it manages resources sustainability and also protects the environment by planting trees along the exhausted queries. It's also community friendly since it discourages child labor and promotes equal working opportunities among men & women.
Bosinange's strengths is to offer trainings opportunities, free tools, raw materials and look for markets for the products of the artisans, its weakness is that it has not yet opened a website due to insufficient finance. They look forward to build a large workshop as more artisans have joined.