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Urban Change Lab

Your item - ethically custom made

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about us

About us

We believe that custom made directly from an artisan has the potential to change the way we live together, the way we use resources, and the way we consume. Our process of direct collaboration between client and artisan leads to a fair and ethical exchange of knowledge, ideas, and ultimately a beautiful, long-lasting product. You’ll love what you get…

Urban Change Lab Team

The Artisans

Sandra Ingabire Sandra Ingabire
Ziadi Nsabimana Ziadi Nsabimana
Jeremy Nsabiyumva Jeremy Nsabiyumva
Claude Mwenedata Claude Mwenedata
Keziah Wanyoike Keziah Wanyoike
Wanjiru Njenga Wanjiru Njenga
Paul Kiarie Paul Kiarie
Brigid Momanyi Brigid Momanyi
Alburn Mutisya Alburn Mutisya
Phineahs M Phineahs M
Magreth John Magreth John
Yvonne Sirali Yvonne Sirali
Wanjiru Kimeria Wanjiru Kimeria
Claudia Kimani Claudia Kimani
George Abira George Abira
Phelesia Oketch Phelesia Oketch
Evelyne Wanjiku Evelyne Wanjiku
Fatma Bashir Fatma Bashir
Hannah Njenga Hannah Njenga
Melissa Adoyo Melissa Aluoch Adoyo
Allan Ochieng Allan Ochieng
Gabriel Anzala Ogombo Gabriel Anzala Ogombo
Appelles Adhiambo Kireru Appelles Adhiambo Kireru
Walter Omundo Walter Omundo
Bella Naliaka Bella Naliaka
Lucas Odima Lucas Odima
Benter Otieno Benter Otieno
Caleb Nyakaba Caleb Nyakaba
Cecilia Kimani Cecilia Nthenya Kimani
Cosmas Wambua Mumo Cosmas Wambua Mumo
Stella Gikonyo Stella Gikonyo
Absolom Dube Absolom Dube
Emily Omondi Emily Omondi
Esther Oriku Esther Oriku
Grace Naitiemu Nyanjom Grace Naitiemu Nyanjom
Grace Mbugua Grace Mbugua
Khadija van Horn Khadija van Horn
Joan Ongige Joan Ongige
Joanne Waithaka Joanne Waithaka
Peter Kagwi Peter Kabu Kagwi
Cathychristine Keya Cathychristine Keya
Lucille Nyikuri Lucille Nyikuri
Lulu Oniang'o Lulu Oniang'o
Manciny Migwi Manciny Migwi
Marion Munga Marion Munga
Nyokabi Mary Nyokabi Githahu Mary
Margaret Muna Margaret Nyambura Muna
Michael Ndichu Michael Ndichu
Moureen Kerubo Moureen Kerubo
Martin Musyoka Martin M Musyoka
Naftal Mageto Momanyi Naftal Mageto Momanyi
Nathanael Mugambi Nyaga Nathanael Mugambi Nyaga
Neema Buyu Neema Buyu
Brian Ng'aru Brian Ng'aru
Nkatha Karauri Nkatha Karauri
Nyakiige Ndugu Nyakiige Ndugu
Nyambura Irungu Nyambura Irungu
Nyambura Beatrice Wahu Nyambura Beatrice Wahu
Olivia Mutai Olivia Mutai
Oscar Ogunyo Oscar Ogunyo
Omondi Oscar Onjara Omondi Oscar Onjara
Daniel Sibindi Daniel Sibindi
Richard Shields Okoth Richard Shields Okoth
Robinson Njoroge Robinson Njoroge
Isabell Mathenge Isabell Wambui Mathenge
Serah Mugweru Serah Mugweru
Herman Gathege Herman Gathege
Stephen Odhiambo Stephen Odhiambo
Teddy Ngando Njeri Teddy Ngando Njeri
John Kamau John Kamau
Victor Amukoya Victor Amukoya
Victor Warunge Victor Prince Warunge
Knight Kerubo Abenga Knight Kerubo Abenga
Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth
Virginia Kariuki Virginia Wambui Kariuki
Elizabeth Amponsah Elizabeth Amponsah

The Team

Nimu Muriu Nimu Muriu Nimu is an enthusiastic young lawyer and creative from Kenya. She has created a business in social media marketing where she showcases the benefit of living a healthy wholesome lifestyle. Nimu is passionate about women’s health and legal security and aims to bring change by partnering with organisations to do so. Nimu uses her skills in law and marketing as our Social media manager and legal adviser.
Jochen Baumeister Jochen Baumeister Jochen is the founder of the Urban Change Lab. He is a serial entrepreneur and consultant with more than 20 years experience. He has an degree in urban planning from the University of Dortmund. Furthermore he in an educated craftsman in electronics. This contributes to a better understanding of the challenges the local artisans working for us face. Jochen is married to a Kenyan medical doctor who brought him closer to Kenyan society.
Prisca Noela Waiganjo Prisca Noela Waiganjo Noel is a creative young designer and writer from Kenya pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a minor in electronic media at Daystar University. She runs a clothing line known as Sapatu Kenya; she’s passionate about fashion and dedicates her time creating fashion concepts to tell different stories. She enjoys bringing artists together to share ideas on how they can uplift each. Noel uses her skills as our Social media and Local Operations Manager.
Victoria Achieng Victoria Achieng Victoria is a graduate mechanical engineer from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She is enthusiastic about green energy and is currently working as entrepreneur in residence within the Urban Change Lab on a solar water heating project with the aim of offering a solution to the surging costs of unsustainable energy by significantly lowering water heating bills. Vicky is supporting in local operations of our platform as well.

The Advisory Board

Archana GollaArchana Golla (Berlin, Germany)

Archana Golla is a psychoanalyst based in Berlin. Processes around “encounters at eye level”, especially in the context of different skin colours, have shaped her work since 2012, mentioned in the publication “From segregation and assimilation to a multicultural society“. In the Urban Change Lab, she pays attention to the places where power disparities unconsciously arise from internalised whiteness and internalised serventality. The conscious confrontation with internalised racism can provide the craftsmen and women with negotiating skills, the client with a broader perspective, the team with an emancipatory (learning from mistakes and avoiding them) approach and a step towards a more socially equal world.
Archana’s profile at ResearchGate

Michael BenfieldProf. Dr. Michael Benfield (Monmouthshire, Wales)

Michael is one of the four co-founders of the International Green Party movement & has a Doctorate in European Environmental Planning & Property Development. Born in Coventry, he ‘grew up on the tools’ as an apprentice carpenter & builder & was educated at Warwick School, Loughborough, Coventry, & Newcastle Universities. As visiting Professor of Civil & Construction Engineering Research with the University of Wales, Newport he promoted environmental ‘eco’ construction issues. He is MD of specialist timber frame engineers, Benfield ATT Group.
Michael’s profile at LinkedIn

Sina Uti-WaziriDipl.-Ing. Sina Uti-Waziri (Abuja, Nigeria)

Sina works for the German Development Cooperation and is currently stationed in Nigeria, working as an advisor in the area of Good Financial Governance. Prior to that she was with GIZ in Nigeria supporting the Nigerian Government in improving the Business Enabling Environment and supporting Local Economic Development. Like Jochen she holds a degree in Urban Planning and a post graduate degree in international development cooperation from the SLE in Berlin.
Sina’s profile at LinkedIn

Valerie BaumeisterValerie Baumeister (Medical doctor, Berlin)

Valerie Baumeister is a medical doctor in neurology, educated and practicing in Berlin, Germany. She grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. Driven by the interactions between traders and customers, she understands the benefits of fair trading and the resultant advantages in terms of quality for the customers and the profit for the craftsmen. Her market experience with the arts market in Kenya has helped bring a particular insight into the day to day interaction between customers and craftsmen. She acts as the sounding board to avoid falling into the “Danger of a single story” on a day to day consultancy with Jochen.
Valerie’s profile at LinkedIn

Custom made for our clients

custom made shorts-suit in arctic blue

custom made shorts-suit in arctic blue

custom made wallet made from fabric

custom made wallet made from fabric

Customised copy of my old wallet

Customised copy of my old wallet

Tailor-made small black leather handbag

Tailor-made small black leather handbag

Tailored dress in beautiful leaf fabric

Tailored dress in beautiful leaf fabric

custom brown leather tote bag

custom brown leather tote bag

The Urban Change Lab helps you to realize your ideas for hand-crafted items. Your concept will be crafted by an artisan in Africa (e.g. Kenya, Ghana or Rwanda). If you like, you can establish contact with your artisan in the process. A positive side-effect of Read More…

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