The Netherlands-based social design collective Butterfly Works believes that “structural improvement in people’s lives is possible when people have the necessary tools of creativity.” 

Founded by Hester Ezra, Ineke Aquarius and Emer Beamer, and working under the motto 'Positive Chain of Events,' the collective has been recognized for their work in several African nations, co-designing new programs with local makers and producers, with the ultimate goal of stimulating people to start projects themselves.  With ‘NairoBits,’ Butterfly Works initiated a digital design school in Kenya to train young people from the slums as web designers, with complete transfer of knowledge and responsibilities to Kenyan managers and teachers.  While their ‘Tyre Trade’ project in Morocco got local manufacturers to collaborate on the creation of baskets out of discarded rubber tires, which are now being used locally as well as sold at design shops in Europe.

Butterfly Works calls itself a "do-tank," combining ethics with aesthetics to arrive at sustainable answers to international social issues. Their approach is participatory, flexible and very hands on, connecting with local communities in deep and lasting ways and with a view to their further enrichment over time.

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