About Us

The Road to Revelation
Ayindisa launched its origins in the early 1990’s when Founder and President, Chris Gay, worked, saved money and then spent all of those earnings traveling around the United States exploring and camping in America’s historic national parks and states. It was in Boulder, Colorado, then San Francisco, California where he eventually settled and discovered the retail market of environmental and natural health food stores which sold items labeled fair trade. Tired of the city after many years he moved to Kanab, a remote town in Southern Utah and spent six years caring for abused animals at Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary, as an animal caregiver and veterinarian technician. In 2000, he extended his travels to lands he had never before experienced; he volunteered with non-profit humanitarian organizations in rural African villages lending his assistance and aid in any manner he was capable.

In 2002, he traveled to Ethiopia with his family for Christmas to perform service work in a medical clinic and help work on other basic technological projects. This experience would prove to be life changing. Chris was not prepared for the extreme poverty he witnessed or the many other beautiful and revolting realities that existed simultaneously in Africa. In 2003, he was invited to become a member of the advisory council for Ascend, a Humanitarian Alliance organization working in Ethiopia, which he continues to contribute to today. He also continues to be a team leader for this organization in the field developing, leading, and participating in expeditions and assisting with the implementation of their various projects designed to empower the poor. Chris’ parents became Mission Presidents for the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints in Ghana, West Africa and he found himself spending a great deal of time in Ghana visiting his parents and helping in any way that he could.

It was 2004 in Accra, Ghana’s capital city where he became friends with a talented young drum-maker and player named Dagando who was living on the streets and struggling to eke out a living in the art center. It was then that Chris realized that his dream of launching a fair trade organization had been waiting on him to cultivate his aspiration into a collective reality.

“I was in a crowded marketplace in search of a drum to buy when suddenly the sea of people around me parted and I saw Dagando in the distance, drums hanging off his shoulders. I instantly knew that we would start doing business together. I will never forget how I felt that day.” – Chris Gay

Chris was pursuing a sculpture degree at SUNY Purchase College in NY and he began selling various handcrafts to fellow students and faculty to aid the artisans he made friendships with. Also he started selling goods at local flea markets or other craft fairs in Connecticut and New York mostly from out of the back of his blue Chevy pickup truck. Ayindisa, LLC became an official business in the state of Connecticut in January 2007 and Chris slowly began building a website and then began utilizing an old red barn on his family’s property to sell products every few months; however this would end due to local zoning enforcement shutting him down. He was frustrated and struggling but it led to greater support and help from family and friends and then realizing an opportunity to acquire some retail space he opened a fair trade store in Ridgefield, CT in December, 2008. However, Ayindisa’s genesis actually occurred somewhere deep inside of Chris, long before he ever met his new friend in the remote African villages with inhabitants the world seemed to have forgotten and forsaken. After having spent a few years looking into the eyes of the afflicted, and holding the hands of the thousands of suffering, yet extraordinary talented and humble people, Chris made a promise to God and himself not to forget what he had experienced and to be of service in anyway that he could.

Through his family, friendships and church, Chris, has been introduced to talented artisans, craftsmen and musicians, as well as diverse and beautiful cultures that contrast some of the horrific events that he had experienced while working and traveling in Africa. The opportunity to share this beauty with the world by combining his own passions for art, music and humanitarian service work brought to fruition his hopes of aiding these human beings in disadvantaged communities and led him to create a socially responsible business based on fair trade principles and practices.

Chris extends a challenge to each individual upon the face of this Earth to give their support to those who are marginalized and economically disadvantaged by purchasing their hand-made products.

Principles of Ayindisa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • We practice social responsibility, which is the concept of an individual, organization or business accepting and implementing guiding principles that substantiate their accountability to society by eliminating unethical conduct that causes harm to a person or community.

  • We live and breathe our mission statement!

  • In addition, we are advocates for social justice, gender equality and we hold ourselves to the highest standards in minimizing our impact on the environment through eco-friendly processes in production, supplies and packaging, the majority of our products are made from recycled, sustainable or all natural products and ingredients.

  • A fair price is always paid – our artisans and producers establish prices and determine the value of their labor, materials and other costs so they can achieve sustainable development and realize an ample profit.

  • An upfront deposit of 50% is readily available to artisans and producers for materials and labor and the balance is paid upon completion of their projects.

  • We develop long-term relationships with artisans and producers based on honesty, trust, communication, accountability, mutual respect and clarity. We have mechanisms in place so both customers and artisans can voice any concerns or problems that may arise in the trading or transaction process at any time.

  • We believe in a safe working environment that supports and preserves the artisans and producers traditional production techniques. We do not support child labor or unfair labor practices and we actively advocate against these abhorrent practices.

  • We have partnerships with reputable fair trade, non-profit organizations and micro-credit lending institutions, both overseas and here in the USA. We actively seek new ways to work with other individuals or organizations that have similar interests or goals.

  • We believe in educating our customers, artisans and producers concerning their role in world trade and in continuous promotion of social responsibility or fair trade. This empowers people by providing them with a choice to participate in a global movement, which is designed to alleviate poverty for economically, and socially marginalized communities and individuals around the globe.


Ayindisa Team

Ayindisa continues to exist especially because of these talented and hard working individuals that make up the Ayindisa team:

Christopher Gay, Founder
Chris has lived abroad and traveled around the world extensively. He graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in sculpture from State University New York, Purchase College.

Chris is the Founder of Ayindisa, LLC, a socially responsible artisan handcraft business in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Chris has spent almost a decade working for and volunteering with various non-profit organizations. His work has been with entities such as: (BFAS) Best Friends Animal Society and Ascend, a Humanitarian Alliance.

Chris is currently the Director of West Africa Operations at Engage Now Africa, a partner organization of the Forever Young Foundation. Since 1995, Chris has been working in the USA and around the world most specifically in Ethiopia and Ghana to help marginalized communities and artisan producer’s rise above poverty.

 

 

Kathleen McMahon, Sales Manager
Kathleen brings years of retail management experience and award winning product display concepts she learned and developed for various retail companies in NYC. She currently manages our retail store and has greatly improved the way our products are displayed and the store is organized and operates. Her attention to detail is a huge asset and if you like what you see it is because of her.

Kyle Gay, Marketing
Kyle is currently studying business at ELON University and manages our online marketing. He also keeps our blog updated and develops contacts with various organizations and individuals that support us.

Dagando Dramani, Director of Operations - Ghana
Dagando keeps Ayindisa running in the challenging environment of Africa and handles all the day to day operations for us. He has a variety of responsibilities including coordinating with all of our artisans and producers throughout all of Ghana. He is also an artisan and produces our beautiful hand drums. Also many thanks to our customers, family members, friends and volunteers that continue to support us and keep this dream alive!