In episode 43 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, I speak with Treana Peake, founder of Obakki on impacting over three million lives around the world.
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Treana’s philanthropic journey started when she was only 8 years old, when an envelope of money was anonymously slipped under her family’s front door. For Treana and her mother, that envelope was everything when they had nothing. It also motivated her mission to give back and was a catalyst that has impacted over 3 million lives.
Having travelled to Africa over 60 times, Treana continues to facilitate sustainable solutions such as vocational farms, solar panel water systems and educational support that help the people she now calls family.
Since launching the Obakki Foundation in 2009, she has developed authentic and lasting partnerships in the areas where she works, investing in the people and their communities.
Recognized as an influential speaker in the field of social entrepreneurship, Treana has spoken about clean water solutions in front of the U.S. Congress and United Nations. Her work in the field has also been recognized and endorsed by UNICEF and The Carter Center.
Treana believes that giving back can be a part of every person’s life. Her approach to philanthropy seeks to modernize the idea of charity, making it relatable and allowing everyone to play a role in sustainable social impact.
Through her work, Treana continues to honor the stranger who helped her family in a time of hardship. Her efforts have brought clean water to 3 million people and she has supported the educational needs of thousands of children. She is relentless in her search for innovative solutions that empower change in others.
Full Interview
Grant: What’s up, everybody? This is Grant from Causeartist. Welcome to Episode 43 of the Disruptors for Good podcast. Today, we are chatting with Treana Peake, the founder of Obakki and The Obakki Foundation. Treana has created a hybrid model, which we’re seeing more and more of—a company that creates a foundation to support its work.
Obakki started as a fashion brand and has since evolved into a lifestyle brand that creates products in collaboration with artisans around the world, mainly in Africa.
The Obakki Foundation benefits directly from the success of the brand. So far, the foundation has impacted 3 million lives around the world, and it all started when Treana was eight years old.
Treana’s philanthropic journey began when she and her mother received an anonymous envelope with money every year. This act of kindness sparked her lifelong commitment to philanthropy. Treana has since made over 60 trips to Africa, creating sustainable solutions for the communities she visits and forging long-term relationships.
Her work includes providing solar panel water systems, educational support, and entrepreneurial opportunities for local artisans. Treana has spoken about clean water solutions at the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, and she has been endorsed by UNICEF and the Carter Center.
In this conversation, we explore her journey and the incredible impact she has made through Obakki and The Obakki Foundation. I hope you find it as inspiring and educational as I did.
03:54
Grant: I like to start these conversations by exploring an individual’s journey—how they reach the point where they decide to dedicate their life to something they’re intensely passionate about. I understand your story began when you were eight years old with that anonymous envelope. Could you start there and take us through your journey?
Treana: Sure. My start in philanthropy began at a very young age. I was growing up with my mom in a small town, living in a one-bedroom house, and we were struggling to make ends meet. That’s not an uncommon story, but what was unique for me was that every year, around the same time, we would receive a white envelope slipped under our door.
It was completely unmarked—no note, no return address, no name. Inside was money that helped us get through the year. For my mom, it was a source of embarrassment, but for me, it was the fact that someone was giving without expecting anything in return. That act of kindness set the benchmark for who I wanted to be, and it sparked my lifelong journey in philanthropy.
05:19
Grant: Wow, that’s incredible. Did you ever find out who was behind it?
Treana: No, I never found out, and I think that was intentional. I’ve mentioned this person in public talks and TEDx presentations, hoping they would hear about the ripple effect their actions had. Because of them, over 3 million people now have access to clean water.
Their act of kindness created a ripple effect that they might never know, but it changed the course of my life and the lives of millions.
06:16
Grant: How do you explain your business and organisation to someone? Obakki does a lot—how do you convey what your brand and foundation do?
Treana: We strive to be a philanthropic lifestyle brand. Whether people come to us through Obakki’s product side or The Obakki Foundation’s development side, they’re joining a community that shares the same values.
Our product side and foundation side are deeply interconnected. Obakki covers all the administrative fees of The Obakki Foundation, so when someone buys a product from us, they know their purchase is doing good.
Our products are ethically made, intentionally sourced, and created by artisans in various countries. We work on increasing livelihood initiatives and kickstarting economies in these regions. So, when someone buys from us, they’re not only supporting our development work but also helping to sustain local artisans.
08:22
Grant: Can you give us a glimpse of how your work impacts the artisans you collaborate with? How does their life change after partnering with Obakki?
Treana: Absolutely. I just returned from Mali, where I met with several artisans. One artisan, Amadou, has been working with wood since he was eight years old. He’s incredibly skilled, but with the decline in tourism since 2012, there’s no local market for his work.
I purchased some beautiful pieces from him, and because we assign proper value to his work, he can now work less and earn more. It’s about respecting the craftsmanship and ensuring that artisans like Amadou receive the value they deserve.
When our customers buy these pieces, they’re not only getting a beautiful product, but they’re also directly supporting the livelihood of an artisan in a remote region.
11:46
Grant: Do the foundation’s clean water projects often coincide with the regions where these artisans are located? How do you integrate your development work with the lifestyle brand?
Treana: In some cases, yes. Mali, for instance, is a new region where we’ve started working with artisans. But we don’t just buy from them; we also start development programmes in those regions.
We look at what’s needed, like reforestation or shea butter cooperatives, and work on those projects alongside supporting the artisans. Everything we do is about creating a sustainable impact—whether it’s through water wells, livelihood initiatives, or supporting local economies.
14:00
Grant: What was your first experience in Africa like? Did you start with the foundation or the fashion brand?
Treana: I’ve always been involved in philanthropy, even before starting Obakki. I formed a small organisation with a friend when I was 16, doing philanthropic work on the side. Later, I launched Obakki as a separate company because I loved the idea of using fashion to tell stories and connect my creative side with my philanthropic efforts.
As Obakki grew, I found that people were more interested in fashion than in my charitable work. That frustrated me, so I began using the fashion brand as a platform to draw attention to the other side of my work.
We started doing special collaborations, like scarves that tell the stories of women in refugee resettlement areas. These products connect people with the cause in a more accessible way.
16:04
Grant: Fashion has indeed become a bridge between philanthropy and impactful work. Many people will never visit places like Mali or Uganda, but through your products, they can still contribute to these communities. Could you delve deeper into the impact of your water projects, which have now affected 3 million people?
Treana: Water is the foundation of everything. I was working in Cameroon when a friend of mine, a Canadian military officer, was posted to South Sudan. Within days of being there, he called me and said we had to start working there—people were dying from lack of food and clean water.
South Sudan is in an emergency crisis, but there are freshwater tables underground. We began drilling water wells in conflict zones identified by the United Nations, which helped instil peace in those areas.
The presence of clean water transforms communities—people stay, build homes, and the overall health and safety of the village improve. Children can go to school instead of searching for water all day. The impact is immediate and far-reaching.
20:36
Grant: For those who may not understand, what does it take to build a water well in these regions?
Treana: We work with local experts—hydrogeologists, pump mechanics, and water drillers. Everything is done by local professionals, and within two to three days, we can have a completed water well.
After drilling, we test the water to ensure it’s safe. One of our key mandates is to return to these wells every year to check on them and make repairs if needed. It’s not just about drilling a well and leaving; it’s about maintaining that well so the community can rely on it for years to come.
24:07
Grant: It’s fascinating how water is the foundation for everything else. After clean water, what’s the next big need in these communities? Is it housing?
Treana: Interestingly, housing isn’t a significant need because most people in these regions already know how to build their own homes using local materials.
Once we provide water, within days, people start making their own bricks and building their homes.
In refugee resettlement areas, the situation is different—people arrive with little more than a tarp.
But as we kickstart the local economy with livelihood initiatives like tailoring, agriculture, and beekeeping, people can begin building their own houses. Housing naturally follows when people have the resources and stability they need.
27:41
Grant: You mentioned several programmes like beekeeping and shea butter processing. How do you decide which programmes to implement in a community?
Treana: We use participatory assessment, meaning everything is identified by the villages themselves. I don’t go in with a plan; I ask the community about their resources, where they see themselves in the future, and what they’re currently doing for livelihood. The community’s needs and existing skills guide our programme development.
For example, in one village, the people had a lot of shea trees, so we started a shea butter processing programme. It’s about connecting the dots and helping communities expand on what they’re already doing.
30:38
Grant: The way you connect the dots is impressive. There’s so much happening, and it’s amazing how you’ve managed to bridge the gap between skilled workers and the global market. For all the negative aspects of the internet, it does provide an opportunity for artisans in Uganda to sell their products to people in places like Nebraska.
Treana: Exactly. The internet has connected us in ways we never imagined. I recently received an email from a man in northern Uganda named Moses. He has 300 trained beekeepers using traditional hives, and he reached out to me for help.
When someone goes to that length to connect with us, it shows their commitment and the potential for impact. We work with what’s already there, helping communities realise their goals and expand their opportunities.
34:48
Grant: What are you most proud of when you reflect on your journey?
Treana: I’m proud of the long-term partnerships we’ve built and the connections we’ve made. These aren’t just projects; they’re relationships. I’ve been working in Cameroon for over 25 years, and these people have become like family.
It’s not just about delivering water wells or training beekeepers—it’s about being invested in these communities and seeing them grow. I’m proud of the ripple effect we’ve created, where our initial actions have led to sustained change.
36:15
Grant: It’s important to celebrate those successes, even if there’s still so much more to do. What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar path—perhaps a small fashion startup that wants to make a bigger impact?
Treana: You don’t need to have a big company or travel to remote regions to make a difference. Start locally, build relationships, and find ways to contribute to your community.
If you can donate, make sure you’re researching the charities you support—understand where your money is going and how it’s being used. If you have a platform, use it to amplify good causes.
Volunteering your time, skills, or services can also make a significant impact. Every action, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect that leads to bigger change.
41:03
Grant: Thank you so much, Treana. I appreciate you taking the time to share your journey and the incredible work you’re doing.
Treana: Thank you, Grant, for giving me the opportunity to share these stories. It’s through conversations like these that we can spread awareness and inspire others to get involved.
