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Urban Change Lab

Your wishes - custom made

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about us

About us

Leading Urban Change Lab from Germany and Kenya — working together to connect ideas with craftsmanship across continents.

Jochen Baumeister and Victoria Achieng Odhiambo in Nairobi

Jochen Baumeister is the founder of Urban Change Lab. He is an entrepreneur and consultant with over 25 years of experience. He studied urban planning at the University of Dortmund and is a trained electronics technician, which helps him understand the challenges faced by local artisans. Jochen lives between Berlin and Nairobi and is married to a Kenyan neurologist, giving him deep insights into Kenyan society. His vision is for a sustainable, anti-racist, and just world — and that’s what he works toward through Urban Change Lab.
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Victoria Achieng Odhiambo is a mechanical engineer (BSc, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology). She is the Local Operations Manager at Urban Change Lab in Kenya and ensures smooth project coordination and communication between artisans and clients. With a strong technical background and a deep understanding of local production, Victoria plays a key role in turning ideas into high-quality custom-made products.
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Imagine that every purchase you make has the power not only to enrich your life, but also to change the life of someone thousands of miles away. That’s the magic of the Urban Change Lab. A platform that connects not just continents, but hearts.


It’s a place where every transaction has a deeper meaning. It’s about relationships, understanding other cultures and celebrating the diversity that makes our world so wonderful

Every product bears the signature of someone with vision and skill. In a world drifting apart, it allows us to build bridges and promote understanding. Join us on this wonderful journey and let’s change the world together, not just with words, but with actions.

🎥 Watch Jochen explain the idea behind the Urban Change Lab.
Watch the interview

The Artisans

Esther Oriku
Esther Oriku
Brian Ng'aru
Brian Ng'aru
Stella Gikonyo
Stella Gikonyo
Paul Kiarie
Paul Kiarie
Nyambura Irungu
Nyambura Irungu
Brigid Momanyi
Brigid Momanyi
Evelyne Wanjiku
Evelyne Wanjiku
Caleb Nyakaba
Caleb Nyakaba
Winfred Njoroge
Winfred Njoroge
Prisca Noel Waiganjo
Prisca Noel Waiganjo
Fatma Bashir
Fatma Bashir
Amos Gachomo Shuma
Amos Gachomo Shuma
Caroline Gatwiri Gichuru
Caroline Gatwiri Gichuru
Hannah Njenga
Hannah Njenga
Allan Ochieng
Allan Ochieng
Sandra Ingabire
Sandra Ingabire
Ziadi Nsabimana
Ziadi Nsabimana
Keziah Wanyoike
Keziah Wanyoike
Samuel Wachira
Samuel Wachira
Claudia Kimani
Claudia Kimani
Absolom Dube
Absolom Dube
Lucille Nyikuri
Lucille Nyikuri
Nyokabi Mary
Nyokabi Mary
Paul Juma Onyango
Paul Juma Onyango
Melissa Adoyo
Melissa Adoyo
Bella Naliaka
Bella Naliaka
Lucas Odima
Lucas Odima
Christine Masese
Christine Masese
Joan Ongige
Joan Ongige
Naftal Mageto Momanyi
Naftal Mageto Momanyi
Neema Buyu
Neema Buyu
Elizabeth Amponsah
Elizabeth Amponsah
Jeremy Nsabiyumva
Jeremy Nsabiyumva
Alburn Mutisya
Alburn Mutisya
Magreth John
Magreth John
Paulina Morongoe Mokhothu
Paulina Morongoe Mokhothu
Yvonne Sirali
Yvonne Sirali
Dennis Orero Ojala
Dennis Orero Ojala
Gabriel Ogombo
Gabriel Ogombo
Benter Otieno
Benter Otieno
Cecilia Kimani
Cecilia Kimani
Grace Mbugua
Grace Mbugua
Joanne Waithaka
Joanne Waithaka
Marion Munga
Marion Munga
Margaret Muna
Margaret Muna
Martin Musyoka
Martin Musyoka
Daniel Sibindi
Daniel Sibindi
Victor Warunge
Victor Warunge
Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth
Jackie Ing'airu - Elsworth
Isabell Mathenge
Isabell Mathenge
Virginia Kariuki
Virginia Kariuki
Denis Mwangi
Denis Mwangi
Walter Omundo
Walter Omundo
Lulu Oniang'o
Lulu Oniang'o
George Abira
George Abira
Phelesia Oketch
Phelesia Oketch
Mariam Kaba
Mariam Kaba
Humphrey Obell
Humphrey Obell
Stephanie Gitau
Stephanie Gitau
Claude Mwenedata
Claude Mwenedata
Phineahs M
Phineahs M
Wanjiru Njenga
Wanjiru Njenga
Georgina Sande
Georgina Sande
Absalom Aswani
Absalom Aswani
Audrey Oblongata
Audrey Oblongata
Benson Juma
Benson Juma
Herman Gathege
Herman Gathege
Wendy Tsuma
Wendy Tsuma

The Advisory Board

Portrait of Sina Uti-Waziri
Sina Uti-Waziri

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.
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Portrait of Prof. Dr. Michael Benfield
Prof. Dr. Michael Benfield

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.
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Portrait of Archana Golla
Archana Golla

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 craftsman 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.
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Portrait of Valerie Baumeister
Valerie Baumeister

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 artisans. Her market experience with the arts market in Kenya has helped bring a particular insight into the day to day interaction between customers and artisan. She acts as the sounding board to avoid falling into the “Danger of a single story” on a day to day consultancy with Jochen.
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Custom made for our clients

Custom Made Guitar Bag: Padded, Durable

Custom Made Guitar Bag: Padded, Durable

Durable Black Sidebag: Cotton or Corduroy, 3 Zippers

Durable Black Sidebag: Cotton or Corduroy, 3 Zippers

Custom Cyprus Wood Cutlery Tray

Custom Cyprus Wood Cutlery Tray

Elegant Two-Tone Leather Wallet, Custom-Made

Elegant Two-Tone Leather Wallet, Custom-Made

Custom 67cm Cutlery Tray with Knife Block

Custom 67cm Cutlery Tray with Knife Block

Pair of Two Custom Elegant Leather Wallets

Pair of Two Custom Elegant Leather Wallets

Imagine that every purchase you make has the power not only to enrich your life, but also to change the life of someone thousands of miles away. That’s the magic of the Urban Change Lab.

It’s a place where every transaction has a deeper meaning. It’s about…

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Habersaathstraße 31
10115 Berlin · Germany
Nairobi 00100 · Kenya