HOUSE BY the SEA collaborates formally and informally with national and international companies and institutions with development objectives such as sustainability and social responsibility. We are involved in the national and international network, with a focus on development and trade, and design.
We are member and authorized importer of Fair Trade Denmark is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), and we endorse the Global Compact, the principles of social similarities.

Take a moment to watch the video to find out more about how we are doing development work or feel free to scroll farther down on the page to see what projects we have been involved in.

ZAFARA – African Art Portal (2022-2024)

HOUSE BY the SEA to support and work for the realization of an international and high-profile Art Portal with african artists from across the continent. Artists and art-lovers around the world will have a direct contact at the site. We get our own gallery with our Functional Stoneware and other designs, and we are going to initiate and curate the Shona Sculptor Gallery, both the classical and the modern.

Product development and capacity building in Zimbabwe (2014 onwards)

HOUSE BY the SEA has established itself in Zimbabwe, in the attempt to develop and draw on the positive experience from the creative kapacitetsopbygnings workshops from the previous year.

‘We needed to be closer to the continuous product development, closer to the cultural institutions in Zimbabwe and closer to the african regional selected,’ says Alice Christmas, CEO.’

Design and capacity building (2011-2013)

The project was initiated by the Fair Trade Denmark, Chitungwiza Arts Centre as well as the HOUSE BY the SEA and was funded by the Danish ministry of culture, and later the Ministry of foreign affairs (Danida).
The results of the project are modern and classic design the products as we negotiate and revenue to producers is increased as intended. We intend to continue several designworkshops and projects in the future.

Work with the manufacturer ‘Chitungwiza Arts Centre’ in Zimbabwe continued in the capacity building project, where the focus is on the organization’s professional and organizational skills, and, not least, to develop the product range and to focus on the local and regional customer base.
This is done in collaboration with Fair Trade Denmark and FairTrade Designers will help to continue the creative development process.

Summary of our Design project…
the Project is situated in Chitungwiza, a poor suburb of Harare, where the unemployment rate is estimated to be above the average of 70%, and the population living in extreme poverty. This experimental project examines nye opportunities to work græsrodsorienteret for sustainable growth in a poor and sometimes politically tense urban area, where the ca. 1 million people are excluded from political, economic, and cultural influence.

‘With the HOUSE BY the SEA, presented here in Zimbabwe, we get a different exposure and focus more on our work, and we can market our products to regional,’ says Richard Mpuma, sculptor in Chitungwiza Arts Centre.

Project the model was new. We worked in a project platform, where a Danish NGO working with a Danish company and a CSO in Zimbabwe. Over 9 months, in a practical process of learning processes, was done in a joint effort to develop the technical and organizational skills, including developing both product supply and the local, regional and international customer base, as well as boosting the potential of the Chitungwiza Arts Centre, which is the længt worked artist’s association, to act as a grass roots at the local and national level.

Fair Danish Design (2011)

Fair Danish Design project began in 2011. The trade samples, was completed and tested over a year. Then they were presented on various occasions in the course of the year, and especially at the international Fair for wholesalers, Formland in august 2012.

Danish Textile Design (2011)

In February 2011, the HOUSE BY the SEA in collaboration with a Fair Trade Store Karibu – Denmark, a graphic designer AB Ingvartsen, textile designer Marie Tarpø and Chitungwiza Arts Centre – Zimbabwe, a textile workshop in Zimbabwe.
The producers were less experienced in the batik and textile printing and simple design, so the starting point was challenging. Marie Tarpø managed to create a great atmosphere and motivation, and we got the textile samples and goods at home with us.

Stelle and Marie in the textile workshop. — ^{Stelle og Marie i textil workshop.}

Zambia (2010)

A Zambia-flirt with a very exciting textile manufacturer as the HOUSE BY the SEA, had established a cooperation with in 2008.

In 2010, we had an opportunity to examine the possibilities of establishing a business partnership through the a Business to Business framework, supported by the Danien.

Uganda (2009)

A collaboration between the Danish business and the HOUSE BY the SEA has developed into a study visit to Uganda, to examine the possibility of establishing a business partnership with a ugandan company.

The study was funded by Danida, but it was not to a local partner, but we got the switch to the manufacturers as we acted with the following year, in particular, a local paper jewelry manufacturer.

Malawi 2008

In 2008, examined the HOUSE BY the SEA the possibilities of cooperation with producers in Malawi. It was a cooperative far out in the country in southern Malawi, where he was produced furniture for many years after.
The furniture is bright, beautiful and the producers are extremely good and experienced craftsmen.
In the summer of 2010 came the black – and-white Malawistole to, and the popular small sofa, also called ‘loveseats’.

Action Aid / MS – Zimbabwe (2005)

In 2005, the House by the sea started a collaboration with ActionAid / MS.
Here, we have collaborated with a small organization in the Tonga region and their members to introduce fairtrade and trying to establish a market for their products in Scandinavia.