a few hard truths

Sofi here- I co-founded Expedition Subsahara to ethically showcase African art and build  a STEAM school for girls in Senegal. Initially, we underestimated the heavy operational costs of running an ethical business and were naive to think a small business could support such ambitious missions simultaneously.

After my partner left Expedition Subsahara, I continued alone, striving to uphold both goals despite the growing pains. Building an ethical business required significant investment in artisans and their communities, which proved more challenging than anticipated. Additionally, challenges like finding ethical (trustworthy) partners for the school, economic volatility, and rising costs due to global conflicts made it difficult to sustain our original vision.

To be honest, I feel like a failure for what I am about to say, but I had to be honest with myself and let go of my ego to allow Expedition Subsahara to grow in a way that makes the biggest difference for our artisans while still supporting girls' education in Senegal.

We couldn’t fully realize the STEAM school as planned, but we have not given up. Instead of building a school, we are partnering with universities in Senegal to create scholarship programs for girls studying in STEAM fields, allowing us to make an immediate impact.

Thank you for your unwavering support throughout these incredible and challenging years. Our dedication to celebrating authentic African craftsmanship with radical respect and empowering girls’ education in Senegal remains stronger than ever. We could not make it work in the way that we originally dreamed, but we are still deeply committed to both of our missions and are thrilled to continue this journey with you.

With eternal gratitude,
Sofi & The ES Team