IWA EXCHANGE
IWA
Our mission · Omoluabi
Iwa, in Yorùbá, means character. At Iwa Exchange, we are more than a marketplace; we are a platform that empowers artisans and shares their stories with the world.
At Iwa, we are guided by the ancient Yorùbá ideal of Omoluabi — a person of strong character who embodies integrity, respect, honesty, self-discipline, and community responsibility. These values are at the heart of everything we do.
Our Approach
Here's how we support artisans.
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Artisans stay in charge.
They remain their own bosses while we connect them with U.S. organizations that respect their work. This ensures that they are in control of their product and maintains our promise to stand up for them, eventually allowing them to take their place as their own boss.
Contracts are carefully reviewed.
Every agreement is vetted to protect artisans’ rights and ensure fair treatment. Ray’s knowledge of reading labor contracts, as well as legal support from our team, will help tailor the contracts to ensure workers' rights protection and that individuals are not deprived of their liberty.
100% of profits go to the artisan.
As a nonprofit, our focus is empowerment, not maximizing revenue, which is why we refuse to take any form of compensation or profit. As a third party, we know the risks that artisans take on when selling us their goods, and we want to minimize these as much as possible.
Shared Experiences
Stories from Across Africa.
Maryanne Msuyian
Maryanne Msuyian is 26 years old. She was married at the age of 16. She has 2 girls. Her husband has two wives and a together they have 9 children. Maryanne’s husband keeps cattle for their livelihood and she makes jewelry, which together they help feed and provide for their family. Maryanne was married off when she was in class 3 which meant droping off school. Her husband was choosen for her, which is the norm for the Maasai culture.
Hellen Koitatoi
Hellen Koitatoi is 36 years old. She got married at 33 and has 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. Her husband has two wives and all together they have 15 children. Her husband sells gas and Hellen makes jewelry which she sells within their local markets. Mary studied upto class 8. The challenges that they face include: Drunkedness of the men which leads to them not being able to provide for their families. Lack of proper information on how to do business and earn a living makes them suffer as they are not able to provide even the basic needs for their families.
WHO WE ARE
Meet the Co-founders
Ray Zand Husain
Ray Zand Husain is a student at BASIS Independent McLean and a co-founder of his school’s African studies club. His experience helping skilled migrants from Bangladesh has given him insight into labor rights, employment agreements, and the challenges workers face when seeking opportunities abroad. He has experience reviewing labor contracts and identifying terms that may affect workers’ rights, independence, and fair treatment. His knowledge of contracts, worker protections, business communication, and partnership development supports Iwa Exchange’s commitment to transparent and equitable trade.
Xinyu (Cindy) Yang
Cindy is a rising senior at BASIS Independent McLean and a co-president of Discover Africa, her school’s African history club. Through extensive travel across West Africa, she has developed relationships with artisans, community members, business representatives, and organizations across the region. Her firsthand conversations with artisans helped her understand the difficulties they face in receiving fair compensation and reaching international markets. She communicates with artisans and potential partners in Africa while also contacting American companies and organizations interested in ethically produced goods. Her understanding of African cultures and local perspectives helps Iwa Exchange represent artisans and their stories respectfully.
Contact Us
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