We have been fortunate to work with some amazing projects in the field of social and environmental change. From a women empowerment social enterprise on the shore of Lake Malawi to rainforest conservation in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Here are some of the project we have worked with;

Katundu - Likoma Island, Malawi

Empowering local artisans through global and ethical business

Katundu is a community workshop creating sustainable furniture and decorative lighting while providing ethical employment in a region with limited job opportunities.

During our time at Katundu we scaled the enterprise from a local initiative into a globally recognized brand. We transformed the business model to weather the pandemic, built international logistical and financial systems, and finally transitioned operations to a fully Malawian-led team.

Key outputs: 
Scaled for international production: Fulfilled large-scale orders for boutique hotels across Africa, including becoming the lead supplier for the interiors of The Latitude Hotel Group. Grew operations to employ 70+ local artisans and established efficient supply chains and logistics to serve clients globally.

Transformation & change during COVID-19: Shifted from a tourist-dependent model to a global customer base across 24+ countries. To ensure financial sustainability we led a complete operational overhaul—launching international e-commerce, digital marketing, new payment and logistics systems, and renegotiating staff contracts.

Built local leadership: Trained and empowered a Malawian management team to take full ownership of in-country operations. Transitioned key roles step-by-step — starting with finance, admin and supply chain, then international sales & logistics — culminating in a full handover with remote support systems in place.

www.katundu.com

Marine Megafauna Foundation - Inhambane, Mozambique

Barefoot Conservation - West-Papua, Indonesia

Community engagement and capacity building for marine conservation
Barefoot Conservation works in partnership with local government and Papuan communities to protect the coral reefs of Raja Ampat and support the communities that depend on them.

We joined the community development team to strengthen stakeholder relationships, enhance environmental outreach, and support the training of local marine conservation leaders.

Key outputs:
Expanded community initiatives: Designed and implemented environmental education and sustainable tourism programs across three islands, in collaboration with schools and local operators.

Strengthen relationships with government and traditional authorities: Facilitated improved relationships between Barefoot’s science team and government departments and traditional authorities, in order to encourage conservation data sharing, reporting and community integration. 

Local capacity building & science training: Coordinated the first scuba training program on Arborek Island, leading to the successful certification of the first three community-based data collection officers. 

www.barefootconservation.org

Carpets for Communities - Cambodia

Empowering families through income generation and education
Carpets for Communities (CfC) was a social enterprise focused on ending intergenerational poverty by empowering mothers to earn a stable income through the creation of one-of-a-kind, hand-hooked carpets.

We supported CfC in scaling its impact, strengthening financial sustainability, and deepening community development efforts—while ensuring global engagement from volunteers and supporters.

Key outputs:
Strategic development of Carpets for Communities: Strengthened CfC’s long-term sustainability by diversifying income streams (product sales, grants, and fundraising), while expanding and refining community  impact programs like micro-loans, entrepreneurship training, community centers and a scholarship program. 

Global donor and volunteer engagement: Built and managed a network of 50+ international volunteers through establishing effective communication systems across Cambodia and Australia, and led donor engagement through events, outreach and storytelling.

"Child Friendly Schools" implementation: Launched the “Child Friendly School” initiative in collaboration with local implementation partners, improving the access to quality education for hundreds of children in the Poipet community. 

www.carpetsforcommunities.org

Orangutan International - Indonesia

Strengthening orangutan rehabilitation through donor relations and care
Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) works to protect wild orangutans and their rainforest habitat, while rehabilitating ex-captive orphans for release into the wild.

We partnered with OFI to enhance donor communications, support team capacity at the rehabilitation center, and contribute to long-term care strategies for individuals with high medical needs.

Key outputs:
Strengthened donor relations through content development: Created a steady stream of blogs, news articles, and adoption program updates to deepen donor engagement and increase OFI’s visibility across their U.S. channels.

Operational support for local staff members: Assisted local staff with daily operations and worked towards increased caregiver motivation — resulting on improving care conditions for over 20 orangutans.

Specialized care and enrichment for three disabled orangutans:  Establish long-term care routines for three severely disabled orangutans, contributing to the direct enrichment, mobility, and quality of life for these orangutans.

www.orangutan.org

Protecting ocean giants through science and community outreach
The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) is a globally recognized marine conservation non-profit. MMF focusses on protecting the most endangered ocean giants, and the habitats they call home.

We supported MMF’s Mozambique headquarters with operational support and the development of a long-term volunteerism model aligned with their conservation goals and contributing to their financial sustainability.

Key outputs:
Optimized Mozambican operations: Managed in-country operations, including accounting, HR and logistical processes in order to effectively support MMF's scientific and community outreach programs.  

Launched the Underwater Africa program: Designed and implemented a volunteer marine research program to support data collection, community outreach initiatives and revenue generation. Built B2B partnerships, tailored the volunteer experience and ensured cultural and scientific alignment with MMF programs.

www.marinemegafauna.org

"A passionate advocate for social impact and ethical employment, Rowan instilled humility and adaptability within the workplace, prioritising the wellbeing and development of the team. Under his leadership, the company expanded training programs and implemented transparent management structures, culminating in a successful transition to a fully Malawian-led team. His ability to balance strategic vision with grassroots integrity made a lasting impact on the community and on the artisans he worked alongside."

Suzie Lightfoot, Founder, Katundu

"I can very strongly recommend Rowan Klaassen. He was a very valuable asset to us. He was able to get results with the limited resources that we had available and in terms of business development and managing stakeholders Rowan still holds the record for securing our biggest customer. He is engaging and professional in his work and consitently left relationships in a better state than they were."

David Bacon, Founder, Carpets for Communities