This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, Veronica Ojwang-Westergard, a Kenyan nurse turned entrepreneur, founded Shadeshares, a company that manufactures environmentally friendly sunglasses to protect eyes from the harsh African sun.
Veronica's journey began when she completed her high school education and traveled to Finland in 2001 to study towards a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. She graduated in 2005 and later earned a Master's in Global Health in 2018 from the same institution.
During her frequent visits to Kenya, Veronica noticed that people in her village were losing their eyesight in alarming numbers due to the harsh sun. She realized that many Kenyans didn't wear sunglasses, and those who did didn't prioritize UV protection. This observation sparked the idea of Shadeshares, a business that would merge her nursing profession with her husband's IT expertise.
Veronica's husband, Jan-Erik Westergard, is an experienced IT entrepreneur who partnered with entrepreneurs in Finland to establish Shadeshares in 2017. The company's name reflects the sharing of ideas and investment proceeds. World Vision later partnered with Shadeshares, and the business has since gained traction abroad, particularly in the corporate world.
As the Head of Sales and Marketing in Kenya, Veronica oversees the company's operations, which include manufacturing environmentally friendly sunglasses using Finnish birch veneer and Italian non-toxic hinges. The workshop is located in Nairobi's SOS Children's Village, and the company employs underprivileged youth from Korogocho and Kariobangi.
Shadeshares is not only environmentally conscious but also philanthropic, donating 20% of its sales to education and employment programs for youth in slums. The company also plants a tree for every sale, in conjunction with the Kenya Forest Service. Veronica's goal is to make Shadeshares a zero-carbon print foot company, and the company has already planted approximately 7,000 trees.
Veronica's advice to entrepreneurs is to be persistent and environmentally conscious. She emphasizes the importance of developing a business that benefits the environment and contributes to the country's economy. With Shadeshares, Veronica aims to improve the lives of Kenyans and the environment, one pair of sunglasses at a time.
