Geneva's Wonderful Women Project: May 2009

Thanks to Geneva Carroll and the Global Teacher Foundation team that visited Nakuru in March, the Kenya Project is branching into new territory: community development through microenterprise. Geneva developed a 15-member ladies sewing circle co-op with the goal of teaching women community leaders the possibilities and tenants of micro-enterprise. The group, self-titled “Geneva’s Wonderful Women Project” operates under the themes “No more digging in the dirt” and “We are artists.” Led by Bibian Atieno Ojwang and Ann Njeri Gichuki, the ladies learned from Geneva the skills necessary to produce lined and non-lined tote bags, decorative mats, and pins with unique embroidery and beading. Now in their third month of operation, they have branched into weaving sturdy handbags and having them bound with decorative leather and creating unique jewelry pieces, notably earrings and necklaces. We are in the progress of researching and seeking local markets for the ladies to exhibit their goods in order to provide more sustainable revenue in Kenya and new opportunities to market their goods in the United States are developing, especially in California. Take a look at Geneva's recent press release about her organization, Fabric Foundations, and sneak a peek of the first photo preview of our ladies in the early stages.

Fabric Foundations is a self-help enterprise program. The program’s goal is to train individuals and groups to develop sustainable economic enterprises. The program teaches community members how to develop an organization, find resources, identify markets and complementary products, and promote sales of their products.

In Nakuru, Kenya the Fabric Foundation staff met with a community leader who brought together a group of women to be trained in the enterprise program. Additionally, the Fabric Foundation staff spent time researching local sources and availability of raw materials that would be used in the creation of products for local markets.

Fabric Foundation staff provided an overview of basic hand and sewing machine skills as well as product design, construction and enhancement techniques for the finished products. Fabric Foundation staff identified the skills of individual participants to assign the product processes to individuals most suited to specific tasks. Beyond product creation, the newly developing enterprise was taught organizational requirements including management, marketing, quality and cost control, record keeping, and accounting.

At the conclusion of the training program the newly formed enterprise had proven its ability to organize, identify and acquire resources, plan and complete production of marketable products and to coordinate their market knowledge to take advantage of available sales opportunities. Geneva Carroll, Director of Fabric Foundations commented, “It was a pleasure to work with these women and watch the enterprise grow. I am excited to see they are creating new designs and products and enjoying the fruits of their new empowerment. Working together the women showed the power of their combined skills, through their designs, finished products, marketing and business skills. “

Geneva noted, “These women have taken their individual talents and strengths, combined them with their new knowledge, and coalesced into an enterprise they named Geneva’s Wonderful Women Project; a viable, self sustaining, economic enterprise that now provides them with a path toward economic independence.”

Check out this sampling of the ladies' goods! Each piece is handmade, entirely unique, with the option of personalizing. Special orders are also accepted. Unfortunately, I am yet to snag any photos of the jewelry pieces, but please contact Liz Nichols at kenyaproject@bellsouth.net if you would like see the collection of delicate earrings and statement necklaces (prices start at $3.50!).