Shop Online With Us

Restart Africa is a charity based in Gilgil, Kenya, that aims to rescue desperate homeless children from the streets of Kenya, where drugs, violence and prostitution are rife, to provide these children with a home, education, care and counselling, and to uplift and empower the community by providing work opportunities.

These opportunities include a briquette making operation that provides the Centre with all its fuel requirements, and generates some income through local sales; a Crafts project making bags, shoes and jewellery; our own agricultural plot supplying vegetables to the Centre and the village; and an extensive herb garden that produces holistic medicinal treatments.

These all help to support the running costs and work of Restart, and aim to provide worthwhile employment for the local community. This in turn enables people to earn money, and gain stability, security and self-respect. Workers, some of whom are Restart Centre graduates, learn to use skills old and new, and make an independent livelihood.

The Sanata Women’s Group (SWG) was established by the charity in 2009 to try and improve circumstances for women in the Gilgil area by providing work which made use of their fine needlework and artistic skills.  The charity provides training training, materials and equipment and the Women's Group are paid in return for the work that they do.  Whilst the charity has not made any money so far from this venture it has provided training and work for a large number of women with around 30 now attending on a regular basis.  This activity empowers the women to fulfil their own destiny providing them with independence and security in a town with limited opportunities.

In collaboration with Ethical Fashion, an international UN backed organisation which connects small and often remote groups of artisans with the international fashion world, we have won several design contracts from prestigious fashion houses, including Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Karen Walker and Sass & Bide.

Using the SWG label, we are a highly efficient and respected supplier of stunning bags, both beaded and screenprinted, jewellery, sandals, belts, dog collars and accessories, all crafted using a combination of ancient skills and innovative modern techniques. Have a look at our products and contact us if you’d like to buy any!

The Crafts project also makes a range of strong, reusable, carrier bags in different sizes and fabrics, which can be screen-printed with any design, both in small and large quantities.

We are always looking for new markets for our products, and would love to hear from retailers who would be interested in stocking our stunning designs. If you would like to place an order, please email us at: swg@restartafrica.org