Women Trained on Beadwork Commercialization

Kajiado, Thursday, April, 13, 2023

K.N.A by Diana Meneto

The Ushanga Initiative Kenya in partnership with the office of the woman representative in Kajiado is training seventy women from Kajiado West Sub County on economic empowerment through beadwork.

The four day training dubbed Women Economic Empowerment Program, Kajiado West Chapter aims at training women on making beads that meet international standards.

Speaking during the training, Kajiado Women representative Leah Sankaire said that the training seeks to add value to the traditional beads the women usually make in order to expand their market and increase their profits.

She adds that the women will be trained on how to produce quality beaded table mats, dog leashes, leather handbags, belts, Maasai traditional ornaments and leather shoes among other items.

Sankaire added that the women will also be introduced to the digital platforms that will enable them to market their products.

One of the trainees, Naneu Koisaba says that the training will come in handy in helping her to fend for her family as the milk they used to sell to finance their daily needs is no longer available due to prolonged drought.

Koisaba adds that the beads they use for beadwork have become expensive drastically reducing their profits but was optimistic to earn more now that they have learned how to add value to their products.

Ushanga Kenya Initiative was established in 2017 and aims to create jobs and transform the living standards of the pastoralist women through commercialization of beadwork which has been a traditional activity but with little economic benefits to the communities.

The women use leather and beadwork to transform traditional ornaments to appeal to global markets. 

Ushanga Kenya has created digital platforms to help women access both local and international markets.

Courtesy K.N.A