Sharjah non-profits to support women weavers in Kenya with Dh250,000 fund

The project will train more than 300 women in weaving skills, helping them build livelihoods

Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers was launched to train poor single and widowed women in Kenya to make crafts. Courtesy Nama

In the Kenyan town of Nanyuki, a cooperative of women artisans have been creating textile art for a decades as a means to alleviate poverty. In 1977, the self-help project Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers was launched to train poor single and widowed women living in nearby villages in crafts, making items – carpets, shawls, cardigans, scarves and others – that they could then sell for a living.

To date, more than 280 women have trained at the cooperative, with some earning enough to move out of squatter settlements and into homes.

This year, the Nama Women Advancement Establishment, a non-profit organisation in Sharjah, and The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) have partnered to provide Dh252,000 to help an additional 300 women to learn from and train with the Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers.

The funds, of which Dh100,000 has been contributed by Nama, will go towards construction of a new workshop, as well the cost of materials and meals for the women during their training period. The amount will also cover tuition fees for 12 orphan children in the village.

The project began in October and will continue until December 2021.

The market town of Nanyuki has a history of textile production, specifically wool. The craftswomen of Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers source raw material from the region around Mount Kenya.

In a statement, Nama director Reem Bin Karam said of the project, “By introducing a livelihood programme, Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers is also ensuring the modernisation of a traditional craft and creating a sustainable future for both the crafts and the women artisans practicing them.”

Mariam Al Hammadi, director of TBHF, added that the monetary support from the partnership “will boost Nanyuki’s existing infrastructure to train more women and make them self-reliant through practicing the craft.”

Founded in 2015, Nama aims to support development programmes for female artisans to build their livelihoods on their skills. The non-profit’s affiliates include the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, which runs the Bidwa Social Development Programme, an initiative that employs around 40 Emirati women to produce traditional crafts.

Last year, Irthi brought together international designers and the craftswomen to create various products with contemporary design, from fruit bowls to handbags, that were then shown at London’s Design Festival in 2019.

Nama was founded by Sharjah ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and is chaired by his wife, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi.