Sara Holby

Sara Holby is the co-founder of Ajiri Tea Company, a socially conscious business she started with her sister Kate Holby in 2009.13 Here's a brief overview of Sara Holby and her work with Ajiri Tea:

Background and Education

Sara Holby attended Bowdoin College, where she studied History and Environmental Studies.3 Her journey towards founding Ajiri Tea began in 2008 when, at the age of 21, she volunteered for an NGO in western Kenya that distributed food and medicine to people with HIV/AIDS.2

Founding Ajiri Tea

After witnessing the negative impacts of the global financial crisis on aid-dependent communities in Kenya, Sara and her sister Kate, along with their mother Ann Funkhouser, decided to create a sustainable business model.2 They founded Ajiri Tea Company in 2009 with the goal of creating employment opportunities and supporting education in Kenya.14

Company Mission and Impact

Ajiri Tea's mission is to create a sustainable cycle of employment and education.4 The company achieves this by:

1. Sourcing tea from small-scale farmers in Kenya
2. Employing local women to create handmade packaging
3. Donating 100% of profits to fund education for orphans in Kenya

Under Sara's leadership, Ajiri Tea has grown to employ over 60 women in western Kenya and sponsor numerous students through school and university.1

Achievements and Recognition

Ajiri Tea has received several awards for both its product quality and innovative approach:

• First Place Award in the Black Tea category at the 2011 North American Tea Championship2
• Innovation in Packaging award at the 2012 sofi Awards2
• sofi Gold Award for Outstanding Innovation in Packaging Design or Function in 20112

Ongoing Work

Sara continues to lead Ajiri Tea with a start-up mentality, focusing on providing opportunities for women, farmers, and orphans in Kenya.5 Her work demonstrates a commitment to sustainable business practices and social impact in the specialty food industry.6