Women graduate in beadwork skills

Nanyuki, Saturday, June 16, 2023

KNA by Muturi Mwangi

Over 35 women from pastoral communities in Laikipia County have graduated after completing their beadwork training which is aimed to equip them with skills in the sector and improve production.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony held in Nanyuki, they said the two month intense training would go a long way in ensuring they generate income and support their family’s livelihood.

 The women who were drawn from Illingwesi , Lekuruki, Naibung’a lower and Naibung’a central were supported by Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT), an organization aimed at supporting local communities in Kenya through peace building and conservation of natural environment.

Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) beads work production manager Beatrice Lempaira said that the women were further trained on leadership skills which was a major boost on improving their communities.

“Our women have undergone leadership training in our beadwork project and they have graduated, they were very happy. The training will go a long way in helping them in their communities to move forward,” said Ms Lempaira.

She added that with the training, pastoral women had the knowhow on current affairs and at the same they could venture in different activities for the sake of their families and community geared towards social-economic development.

As a way of giving back to the community Ms Lempaira said that they channeled five percent of their proceeds from the beadwork business to their community-owned conservancies to do projects of their choice, promote wildlife conservation and at the same time support vulnerable children to access education.

“The women celebrated giving back a five percent conservation fee from the total beadwork sales made in a year. That will be used to protect and conserve our wildlife. This is an annual event and today, four conservancies had given out Sh.2 million,” she said.

Lempaira said the Sh.2 million was five percent of their total earnings from beads and at the same time she called on other state and non-state players to join hands and support the women in finding a market for their beads which was a challenge to them.

Esther Ng’irisho, one of the graduates said that with the training acquired she was hopeful to change her community together with other women who had undergone the training.

Mount Kenya Regional Director Aloyce Gonzaga Lekuton said that the training was a unique way of supporting the local women acquiring requisite knowledge on how to be change makers in their communities.

“You just have to be a member of the community for you to get this opportunity to understand the leadership of your community and the conservancies. There is no other qualification, not even education,” revealed Lekuton, adding that the training was first to be held in Mt. Kenya region.

The director revealed that, the women had raked Sh.8 million in beadwork business this year and contributing five percent of their total earning was a great boost to their local communities, however, only women groups who had mastered the art of bead making ,and are referred as Star beads ,were allowed to contribute.

He noted that they have been able to help the women access international markets in the United Kingdom, Dubai and United States which had good market rates and at the same time eliminate middlemen who might take advantage of the beadwork industry.

The Director called on partnership from government and other community-led organizations in a bid to support many vulnerable people.

This comes as the government set the ball rolling on formation of a State Corporation that will protect and preserve beadwork made by Kenyans.

The move will further promote cultural heritage and ensure women acquire financial freedom through entrepreneurship.

The Ushanga initiative which was launched in October 2021 is set to be transitioned to State Corporation next month.

The products including beadwork, wood carvings and pottery among other cultural products will be protected through legal policies aimed at ensuring intellectual property are safeguarded and traders involved in the sector get value of their work.

Courtesy ; K. N. A