We support Massai Women

Massai Women

Francis Paonessa has recently returned from Kenya and it prompted him to write to WRS and ask us to ask you for your support in helping a community of Maasai women into entrepreneurship. Please read his words below;

"Over the past couple of years, my partner Tara and I have been supporting the Eyieunoto Nabaya community in Kenya. In that time, this Maasai community, located about 40km South West of Nairobi, have made huge strides towards self sufficiency through their own hard work.

With no other source of income, and with no support from the Kenyan Government, they’ve worked together to raise their standard of living through community programmes. Two of the most successful are their community goat breeding and bee keeping programmes, with the goats and the honey being sold for cash.

Unfortunately, these existing community programmes can only take them a short way towards their goals given the isolation of their community. Ironically, in such a previously male oriented culture, it is now the ladies of the community who have the greatest opportunity to generate a significant source of income through the sale of their traditional Maasai jewellery.

Clearly, there’s a naturally limited market in Kenya so Tara and I set up “Made By The Maasai” a year ago as a not for profit organisation to sell the ladies’ jewellery in the UK. We take no income from the business and all of the revenue goes directly to the benefit of the community."

Please visit www.madebythemaasai.com if you would like to help the Massai Women.