What Mayamiko Trust does

Mayamiko Trust is a UK-registered charity (number 1126126) founded in 2008 by Paola Masperi and headquartered in London, with operational delivery centred on a Fashion Lab workshop on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi. The organisation operates a 'Trade not Aid' model that bundles vocational training (sewing/tailoring, beekeeping, solar light sales, business and financial literacy) with microfinance access and a TEVETA-accredited qualification, targeting marginalised women in Malawi and southern Africa. To date the trust reports cumulative impact of 160+ Fashion Lab graduates, 170+ business trainees, 5,000+ people reached with solar lighting via a partnership with Solar Aid/Sunny Money, 90 beekeepers trained near Nkhotakota National Park, 2,000+ reusable sanitary pads distributed, and 5,000+ masks produced during the COVID-19 response.

The trust's underlying technology stack is modest: a Squarespace-hosted website and Learning Zone, WhatsApp and Facebook-based digital training delivery, and a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) solar distribution system with automated remote switch-off. In 2020 it launched a Digital Academy producing 40+ multilingual mobile-first learning modules, and in 2021 piloted a train-the-trainer model that scaled five trainers to fifty learners. The affiliated commercial sub-brand Mayamiko The Label (launched 2014) operates a global e-commerce womenswear channel at mayamiko.com, with a Buy-One-Give-One initiative that funds charity programme delivery.

The revenue model is multi-streamed: individual donations (monthly recurring from £2 and one-time via the Enthuse platform), corporate/philanthropist project sponsorship, sales from Mayamiko The Label, and a revolving microfinance fund for sewing-machine grants and solar light resellers. The trust is supported by a small team of four known personnel (founder, team member, tailoring teacher, microfinance expert) and a broader volunteer network, with no disclosed funding rounds, venture capital, or parent company. Pricing is structured as unit-priced sponsorship tiers ranging from £2 (single pad) to £150 (business training for one woman).

Name

Mayamiko Trust

Legal name

Mayamiko Trust

Website

https://mayamiko.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mayamiko Trust is a UK-registered charity founded in 2008 that delivers vocational training, microfinance, and product-distribution programmes (Fashion Lab, solar lights, Positive Pads, beekeeping) to marginalised women in Malawi and southern Africa, supported by donations and its affiliated ethical fashion brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Charitable Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Fair trade fashion
• Reusable sanitary products
• Solar light distribution
• Microfinance lending

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, starting from as little as £2.00 per month. Regular giving programme provides sustainable funding for programmes. Processed via Enthuse platform.
2. Project Sponsorship: Businesses, organisations, and philanthropists sponsor specific projects or programmes (e.g., period poverty kits, solar lights, sewing training). Includes employee volunteering and giving initiatives.
3. Fair Trade Fashion Sales (Mayamiko The Label): Mayamiko The Label, launched in 2014, is a contemporary womenswear brand inspired by African artisanal tradition. Many Fashion Lab graduates work with the label. Available online at www.mayamiko.com worldwide.
4. Microfinance Scheme: Graduates of vocational training access microfinance grants to start businesses. A revolving fund supports initial investment for solar light resellers and individual buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mayamiko Trust delivers vocational training and educational programmes for marginalized women in Malawi, including sewing and tailoring (Fashion Lab), business and financial literacy, a Digital Academy for online learning, reusable sanitary kits (Positive Pads), a solar light distribution initiative (Bringing the Light), and a beekeeping programme. The trust operates on a 'Trade not Aid' philosophy, combining face-to-face training with microfinance access to help graduates start sustainable businesses, and runs an affiliated ethical fashion brand (Mayamiko The Label) that employs programme graduates.

Product overview

Mayamiko Trust is a UK-registered charity (number 1126126) offering a portfolio of vocational training and empowerment programs for marginalized women in Malawi and southern Africa. The core offerings include the Fashion Lab (sewing and tailoring training), the Digital Academy (online learning platform), Business and Financial Literacy Training, and the affiliated ethical fashion brand Mayamiko The Label. Additional initiatives address period poverty (Positive Pads reusable sanitary kits), sustainable energy access (Bringing the Light solar program), beekeeping conservation, and Covid-19 response. Programs operate on a 'Trade not Aid' philosophy, combining face-to-face and digital delivery with microfinance support to help graduates establish sustainable livelihoods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mayamiko The Label: Contemporary womenswear brand inspired by African artisanal tradition and prints, with ethical trading and sustainability at its core. Named a 'brand to know' by Vogue and counts Meghan Markle amongst its fans. Ships worldwide and is available online at www.mayamiko.com.

Products and services

• Fashion Lab Vocational training programme in sewing and tailoring for marginalized women in Malawi, providing transferable skills from pattern reading to garment finishing, with graduates receiving TEVETA-recognized qualifications and access to sewing machine grants. Includes an on-site nursery for trainees' children and daily nutritious meals.
• Business and Financial Literacy Training
• Digital Academy (Learning Zone) Online learning platform providing digital training modules in Business and Financial Literacy, Natural Dyes, Covid awareness, and Feminine Health, accessible via mobile phones and computers with content delivered through WhatsApp, Facebook, and a dedicated Learning Zone to reach low-literacy or low-data beneficiaries.
• Positive Pads (Reusable Sanitary Kits) Reusable sanitary kits crafted from Fashion Lab fabric offcuts, distributed to girls and women through partner organizations alongside feminine health education to combat period poverty. Distributed in multiple languages including English, Chichewa, Arabic, and Greek.
• Mayamiko The Label Contemporary womenswear brand inspired by African artisanal tradition and prints, operating as a fair trade fashion label that employs Fashion Lab graduates and ships worldwide via www.mayamiko.com. Named a 'brand to know' by Vogue with Meghan Markle as a supporter.
• Bringing the Light (Solar Light Programme) Solar lighting initiative partnering with Sunny Money Malawi and Solar Aid to provide affordable solar lights via a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, create reseller opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and reduce kerosene use in off-grid communities around Lilongwe.
• Beekeeping Programme Beekeeping training initiative for Natural Resource Committee members, providing skills to generate sustainable income from forest honey while supporting elephant conservation and reducing human-wildlife conflict near Nkhotakota National Park.
• Covid-19 Response Programme Emergency response initiative producing and distributing masks, creating educational flashcards and tutorials in multiple languages (Kiswahili, English), and providing support to vulnerable communities during the pandemic. Includes partner organisations such as Nest, Grace of God Orphanage, Eden Wellness, Ivy Cares, Plan International, and Innov8 Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160+ women graduated from Fashion Lab with sewing/tailoring skills, business mentorship, and access to funding for businesses
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Amurtel GreeceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019AMURTEL Greece is an international women's NGO maintaining safe women's spaces focused on pregnancy up to two years after birth. Mayamiko Trust partnered with AMURTEL Greece in 2019 to provide donations of reusable sanitary pads (Positive Pads) for women accessing their services. The partnership included culturally appropriate visual information leaflets translated into Arabic, French, Greek, and Farsi. Beneficiaries included women aged 16-45 from migrant and refugee backgrounds (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Cameroon, Ghana, DRC, Sierra Leone). The project also provided a sense of pride and sisterhood to Mayamiko Trust women making the pads.
• Lusindo HoneyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016A Nkhotakota-based honey enterprise that buys pure forest honey and processes it for the Malawi retail market. Lusindo Honey partnered with Mayamiko Trust in 2016 to pilot a beekeeping training scheme with 9 Natural Resource Committees (90 members) from the village of Bamba. Lusindo Honey provided specialist apiary supervision for hives on a fortnightly basis and assisted with harvesting, while Mayamiko Trust funded the training and microfinance access.
• Mayamiko The LabelflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014A contemporary womenswear brand launched in 2014, inspired by African artisanal tradition and prints, with ethical trading and sustainability at its core. Many Fashion Lab graduates work with the brand, benefiting from workshop policies. The label runs a 'Buy One Give One' initiative that funded Covid-19 mask production. The brand has been named a 'brand to know' by Vogue and counts Meghan Markle among its supporters. Available worldwide at www.mayamiko.com.
• Solar Aid / Sunny Money MalawiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international charity with over 14 years of experience, Solar Aid/Sunny Money provides access to solar lights in Uganda, Malawi and Zambia, aiming to eradicate hazardous kerosene lamps while creating sustainable jobs. Mayamiko Trust partnered with Sunny Money Malawi to expand the reach of sustainable energy, providing solar education training, a business training component, and a reseller scheme enabling women to create solar light businesses. Over 5,000 people in immediate communities now have access to clean lighting. A revolving fund supports initial investment for resellers.
• We Care Youth MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeCare Youth Organisation provides medical attention, shelter, food and love to vulnerable children, helping them attain educational and health care needs. Given the established link between lack of sanitary products and school attendance for girls, Mayamiko Trust partnered with We Care Youth to provide reusable sanitary kits alongside feminine health education to girls in need in Malawi.
• The UnmentionablescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international organisation working with girls and women in refugee camps to promote feminine education, sexual and maternal health. Mayamiko Trust provided reusable pads for distribution alongside awareness programmes. Two community educators, both refugees who completed Mayamiko Trust's intensive six-week sexual and reproductive health training, now teach daily as paid employees. The first batch of pads arrived at the refugee camp in Greece and was distributed to those in need.
• There is Hope MalawiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn organisation working to empower refugees in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. Mayamiko Trust delivered reusable sanitary pads to the organisation in 2019 as part of its feminine health programme.
• Grace of God OrphanagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local grassroots organisation in Malawi. Mayamiko Trust partnered with Grace of God Orphanage during its Covid-19 response, distributing masks to orphans, the elderly, and vulnerable groups in the surrounding communities. Hlupe Chirwa, a Mayamiko Trust team member, also runs this orphanage with her husband Titu.
• Eden WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local grassroots organisation in Malawi. Mayamiko Trust partnered with Eden Wellness to reach vulnerable groups including rough sleepers during its Covid-19 mask distribution programme.
• Ivy CaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local grassroots organisation in Malawi. Mayamiko Trust partnered with Ivy Cares to reach former sex workers during its Covid-19 mask distribution programme.
• Plan InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international child-focused organisation. Mayamiko Trust made an additional donation to Plan International for immediate relief efforts in and around the refugee community in Malawi as part of its Covid-19 response.
• The Marylebone ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest women's hostels in the UK for women affected by homelessness. The Marylebone Project used Mayamiko Trust's mask tutorials so women in hostels could make their own masks during the pandemic. The organisations are described as 8,000 km apart but united in approach for supporting vulnerable women.
• Innov8 AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Kenya-based NGO that worked with the Red Cross to distribute over 1,000 sets of Mayamiko Trust's Covid-19 awareness flashcards, localised in Kiswahili, across 61 school districts in Kenya. Flashcards were laminated and hooked together with key rings for easy sharing. The organisation described the flashcards as 'a big hit'.
• TEVETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) is the leading accredited training agency in Malawi. Mayamiko Trust worked with TEVETA to establish an apiary training curriculum for the beekeeping programme and to provide recognised qualifications for Fashion Lab graduates. Upon completing Fashion Lab training, graduates receive a TEVETA-recognized qualification.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Krochet Kids intl. Ethical apparel brand employing women in Uganda and Peru, providing vocational training and income. Closely comparable to Mayamiko's training-to-employment-to-ethical-fashion pipeline.
• Noonday Collection: Ethical fashion and accessories brand partnering with artisan enterprises in developing countries; comparable to Mayamiko The Label in fair trade positioning and impact-driven storytelling.
• Sseko Designs: Fair trade fashion brand employing women in Uganda to make sandals and accessories, with profits funding educational scholarships. Direct peer given shared fair trade fashion + women's empowerment + East African operational footprint.
• Freeset Global: Fair trade apparel manufacturer employing marginalized women in India and Bangladesh, combining vocational training with ethical fashion production. Directly comparable to Mayamiko The Label's model of training women in sewing and selling ethical apparel globally.
• SolarAid: International charity distributing solar lights across Africa to eradicate kerosene use; an existing Mayamiko partner via Sunny Money Malawi. Direct comparable in the Bringing the Light program.
• Mud Jeans: European circular fashion brand using recycled denim with fair production. Comparable to Mayamiko The Label in combining ethical sourcing, fair trade, and sustainable production narratives.
• Nisolo: B Corp-certified ethical footwear and accessories brand with artisan production in developing countries. Comparable to Mayamiko The Label in fair trade apparel positioning.

Emerging players

• Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Leading PAYG solar distributor across East Africa. Comparable to Mayamiko's PAYG solar agent program with Rose and other women resellers, though operating at much greater commercial scale.

Regional players

• Self Help Africa: International development NGO working on entrepreneurship and livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable to Mayamiko's business/financial literacy training and beekeeping programs in scope and region.

Broad incumbents

• d.light: Global PAYG solar company serving off-grid households across Africa and Asia. Comparable to Mayamiko's PAYG solar distribution model, though at much larger scale and as a for-profit enterprise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mayamikotrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/MayamikoTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mayamiko-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mayamiko Trust