The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Chyulu Hills REDD+ Carbon Project and Ushanga Initiative has launched Ushanga Innovation Resource Centres (UIRC) project which aims at commercializing beadwork.
The project aims to empower approximately 10,000 women from Imbirikani, Kuku, Kuku-A, and Rombo group ranches.
Ushanga Initiative Chief Executive Officer Dorothy Mashipei urged the women to register for the project in numbers so that they could access the benefits fully.
“Everyone needs to register as we are digitizing beadwork marketing to empower all women for a sustainable economic empowerment,” said Mashipei.
The CEO disclosed that the registration also has a component of measuring the vulnerability of the women, helping them access international markets and the registered members would also benefit from capacity building.
According to the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service Prof. Erustus Kanga, the initiative is a cornerstone of sustainable development which aligns with The Kenya Kwanza manifesto by advancing key priorities such as the Women Agenda, Digital and Creative Economy, and Environmental Conservation.
“As KWS, we will partner with Ushanga Initiative to provide spaces in our park gift shops to showcase these remarkable artworks. Together, we are building a bridge between wildlife conservation and community development while preserving Kenya’s rich cultural & wildlife heritage,” said Kanga.
He remarked that in every centre, they would also have a tannery to process leather as most of the beadwork depends on leather.
“We will also drill boreholes so that you can plant trees according to the President’s directive of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032,” said Kanga
The partners will also conduct modern training and provide modern tools for the women to use for the beadwork so that they can meet the international market standards.
The community has also provided spaces in the centres to provide bailing of grass to cushion during times of drought.
By Diana Meneto