Minai was born out of the desire to create a lasting impact in the lives of women in Love, Kenya.
In 2022, East Africa was hit by a severe drought that devastated crops and left subsistence farmers struggling to survive. Most of the women in our community rely on farming for their livelihoods, and seeing the toll the drought took, my mother and I started a fundraiser to provide food to those in need.
Thanks to the support of generous donors, we were able to distribute foodstuffs to 30 families.
While the fundraiser helped in the short term, we knew we needed a more sustainable solution to support the women in our community long-term. In 2023, we ran another fundraiser but began thinking about ways to empower the women beyond immediate relief. We asked them what they believed would be the most meaningful way forward, and their answer was clear: skills building.
Inspired by their desire to learn and create, we decided to invest in skills training for jewelry making. We began by sourcing the first batch of jewelry from talented local artisans, who will now help train the women in Love to create their own pieces. By teaching them this craft, we’re not only providing a new income stream but also offering a way for them to overcome the challenges posed by climate change and unreliable farming conditions.
Every piece of jewelry you purchase helps fund training programs and provides the women of Love with the tools and skills they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.
Your support empowers these women to craft their own success and gives them the chance to thrive in the face of adversity.
Minai means “jewelry” in Kikamba, but to us, it means so much more: it’s hope, strength, and sustainability.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Together, we can create change that lasts.
