Shafia Shama

About Shafia:

Shafia is the owner of M/S Shama, a company that manufactures environmental friendly fashion accessories including jute handbags, sling bags, sling pouches, utility covers, passport covers, and women’s wallets. M/S Shama’s facility is the site for research, product design and development, quality control and manufacturing of bio-degradable diversified jute and leather products in compliance with global quality and environment standards. In addition to fashion accessories, M/S Shama also produces home décor, office accessories, and baskets. M/S Shama is a social enterprise that is passionate about supporting underprivileged women in rural areas. Shafia has trained 2,000 women to date and also provides primary education and helps with maternity leave and child care for the women who work in the company. M/S Shama’s management has also adopted several environmentally conscious actions to reduce, recycle and reuse raw and waste materials. They minimize the impact of transportation, energy and water usage while processing. They donate or contribute to environmental groups. Most importantly, they adopted an environmental policy to reduce air, water and noise pollution during manufacturing processes. Shafia is the Joint Secretary for the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE), a member of the Jute Product Diversification Corporation (JPDC), and a member of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BWCCI). Shafia has experience in Public Relations, Marketing, Design and Innovation Capacity Building. Shafia was a Vital Voices 2017 Global Ambassador Program Mentee and earned her Master’s in Philosophy from Dhaka University.

What Shafia hopes to gain from the VV GROW Fellowship:

Shafia hopes to improve her business ideas, business and strategic planning, accounts and market intelligence. She also hopes to learn about branding and to explore export markets.

What Shafia can offer other fellows:

Shafia can offer to share her knowledge about entrepreneurship and building and growing a socially responsible business.

Connect with Shafia on Social Media:

Website: www.simplejute.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/safia.shama.7

Instagram: @shafia_shama

Linkedin: Shafia Shama