About the Project
The project consisted of establishing a fully functioning center to make and tailor clothing.
Location
Mwihoko Village, Nairobi, Kenya
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | February – August 2024 |
| Luena Investment | $1,500 |
| CBO Partner | Kanam Women Initiative (KWI) |
| Village | Mwihoko Village |
| Country | Kenya |
| # of Children Impacted | 150 |
| Community Contribution | Community contributed $400 and volunteer tutors for the workshop |
Single Mothers and Children at High Risk
Knowledge is power and knowledge comes with an education. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report, more than 9 million people in Kenya live in extreme poverty, and a large proportion of them live in informal settlements. In the slums of Mahera, Mwihoko and Dagama, on the outskirts of Nairobi, about 400,000 people live, most of whom are women and children. They have limited resources, and many are practically illiterate. As a result, they are unable to find a place for themselves in the labor market.
The situation is extra difficult for (single) young women with children in care. After the birth of a child with special needs, women are often abandoned by their husbands. This has to do with the culture and also with avoiding the extra responsibility of raising a child with care. In addition to the problems with finding work and raising children alone, there is also the extra care that their child requires. One of the problems is that these children are not admitted to mainstream care or schools; thus, mothers have to take their children everywhere with them. In the long term, they sometimes end up as beggars on the street.
Due to their lack of skills, women are forced to work with their hands, in poor conditions and long hours. The women live in extreme poverty. They live in sheds, can barely afford a meal a day, and the children do not go to school due to lack of school uniforms and other school requirements. Basic health care is not accessible, which means that infectious diseases spread easily, and the children in care do not receive the extra health care they need.
Workshop Provides Training and Income for Women
The donation from Luena Foundation was to procure industrial sewing machines and to furnish the workshop. Kanam Women Initiative (KWI) has 10 women who attend the program on a daily basis in shifts. Each woman produces at least two items per day, including school uniforms and items made to order. In return, per day they are able to make an average of KES 400 ($4) each, depending on the amount of work available.
KWI anticipates expanding the project’s reach by training at least 30 women every year and potentially extending the training period to cover more advanced techniques for the general public. Moreover, KWI plans to establish partnerships with more fashion and design enterprises to provide employment opportunities for graduates and ensure the sustainability of the project. The project will generate income from three primary sources:
Training Fees: Each cohort will include four community women who will pay Kshs 5000 ($50) per month.
Workshop Services Profits: The workshop will aim to generate a net profit of Kshs 30,000 ($300) monthly after 24 months of operations.
Graduate Contributions: Graduates will contribute Kshs 500 ($5) per month for 12 months upon securing employment. This income will cover utility bills, equipment maintenance, and savings for future project needs, ensuring the project’s sustainability.
Meet our Partner Community-Based Organization
Kanam Women Initiative (KWI) was established in 2016 by a group of women who were victims of gender based violence. The aim of establishing this group was to create a platform whereby victims of gender based violence would meet to share their experience as well as support each other. Over time, KWI has transformed from an informal group of vulnerable women to a formal professional organization managed and run by women. Through the support of partner organizations, the government of Kenya and well-wishers, the organization is making strides to effectively address challenges affecting local vulnerable women through different programs.
