HerStory Podcast Series
HerStory Podcast Series
Episode 22: Zamzam's Organic Beauty Business in Tanzania
In this episode, Jessica Zapata, HerStart Program & Partnerships Fellow in Tanzania, speaks with Zamzam Khamis Juma, founder of Zajkha Organic Beauty – a business that creates products like soap and face scrub using natural materials. Zamzam discusses her goal of reducing harmful chemical use and women's unemployment in her community and how YCI's HerStart program supported her entrepreneurship journey.
This episode was conducted in Swahili and the English voiceover is provided by Ilham Haji.
Welcome to Youth Challeng Internationals Hair Start Hair Story podcast series Youth Challenge International O Y C I launched the Hair Start Innovate the Future program in 2020. As part of our initiative to advance women's equality globally, our goal is to provide 10,000 women in Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda. With the resources and supports they need to successfully launch and grow their social businesses. We are sharing real stories of young women who are leading change in their communities. Y CI's Hair Start Innovate. The Future program is funded in passed by the government of Canada to progress Canada's feminist international assistance policy. Learn more@yci.org or hair.org.
Speaker 2:Hello, my name is Jessica and I'm a programs and partnerships fellow with Youth Challenge International's hairstyle program in Zanzibar. Today I'm speaking to Zaza Juma Cais about Sashka Organic Beauties and hairline of beauty cosmetic skincare and hair care products. Zza is 24 years old and a participant in the Hair Start Grow your social venture program. This program helps young women entrepreneurs grow their social and environmental impact through their business skills, coaching, mentorship, and training. Zza is also a recipient of her star Cardinal's fund. The funding provides women a ventures with critical seed funding that can help them thrive. Zza and I are speaking today in her business and she speaks Swahili. Her answers were translated into English and read by Ilham Haji. Tell us more about your business idea.
Speaker 3:I'm processing the natural cosmetics that are made from plants and natural oil. Those products are soaps, scrubs, face oil, hair oil, body oil, lip and lip scrub, lip scrub.
Speaker 2:Now we wanna know where they this idea came from and why did you start your business?
Speaker 3:I started this business after completing my diploma. I wasn't able to continue with my degree studies due to health problems, which was skin problems. Therefore, I personally sacrificed myself to use household products like lemon, turmeric, but I search. Using those household is part, therefore there is another way of using natural cosmetics that can help you rather than using the chemical ones. I followed those people who knew how to teach me on making natural cosmetics where I learned after finishing that I made the natural cosmetics and used them and I also gave them to my close people. We used those natural products and they helped us. This is where I became motivated to to make natural products because I've seen a lot of people suffer from skin problems like acne, pimples and also if they use the chemical cosmetics that affect them to have skin bumps. Eczema, which is an inflammation of the skin and others.
Speaker 2:Can you share with us how your business operates day to day?
Speaker 3:I open my shop and other people come to buy my products from my shop. Others make an order cause I used to post my product through social media and I make a delivery for them and they pay after delivery. How do
Speaker 2:You create your product?
Speaker 4:I
Speaker 3:Create different products in the case of coffee, scrap, I use coffee, honey sugar together with forming butter that make bubbles to the products. I also put in a preservation that helps the product to stay longer and not to be damaged. In the case of hair oil, I dry the powdered floors like Ric flour, lime tree, clothes, and rosemary for about two weeks and final.
Speaker 2:What are some challenges that you're facing?
Speaker 4:From
Speaker 3:My side, the challenge that I face is lack of marketing, unavailability of resources like forming butter, which is not found in Zanzibar, which needs me to buy in other areas. Also package, you can buy a package but on on other days you can get the new ones, which is sometimes a challenge to the customer due to different packages. In the case of society, Tanzanians don't believe in the use of natural cosmetics, which needs much time to make them understand and buy the products.
Speaker 2:How has Hair Start helped you in your personal and professional goals?
Speaker 3:Has that helped me? During that training, they gave me good training because for the first time I didn't know what my business is among the social entrepreneurship, but when I went there I knew about the social entrepreneurship since it helps people in my community also, it helped me to know everything should be kept in measurement. Like when I use water to create my product should be in measurement. Oh, I have to pay for myself. But I did know before, however, it helped me to get the grants to operate my business. I really think.
Speaker 2:What accomplishments are you most proud of? Personally, professionally and educationally?
Speaker 3:Accomplishment that I am proud of is I got the training and I'm working for it. In the case of business accomplishment, it is for the things that I create to help people and beneficial. So this gives me ability to continue more with my business.
Speaker 2:Which individuals played a role in your personal growth and how did they help
Speaker 4:You?
Speaker 3:The people that helped me to establish the business still here are my parents. They are the ones who gave me capital and gave me permission to go to training and they also helped me to make a follow up. My mother is the one who advised me whenever I ask and my young sisters.
Speaker 2:How do you wish to expand or grow your business?
Speaker 3:I expected to expand my business by making the cells within Tanzania and out of Tanzania. Also, I want to know more about cosmetics and other products. However, I want to establish ESP SPA that will use natural cosmetics during the provision of products like FAS and
Speaker 4:Massage.
Speaker 2:What do you envision for the future of your business?
Speaker 3:My envision is to strengthen the skin health by being creative and making the quality natural products by using plants.
Speaker 2:Do you have anything else to add?
Speaker 4:[inaudible] I
Speaker 3:Think hashtag for giving me training. Any grants for continuing with my business. They are doing great and they should keep on doing great. I advise other people not to give up because commencing a business is not the first state to grow. They have to sacrifice and they have to know that there is loss and profit. They have to do it with all passions.
Speaker 2:We are here very proud and happy to have you here in your challenge international and be one of the recipients of the Eco is Found. Thank you for your time and for having this, um, knowledge and experience with us.
Speaker 4:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thanks for joining us today and learning about how you challenge International has partnered with young women to advance gender equality globally and create a social entrepreneurship ecosystem with the positive impact for all. If you enjoy this hair, start innovate the future podcast episode. Please subscribe and share our episodes on social media. A special thanks to the fellows that volunteered their time in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda who helped create these episodes. YCS has that innovate. The future and fellowship programs are funded through the government of Canada's volunteer corporation program, providing skilled Canadians opportunities to volunteer with global partners and advanced Canada's feminist international assistance policy. Join us in thousands of young people around the globe creating a better future together. Learn more atci.org or.
