Malibu Strong
Another woman, Frida Kimit, came forward to explain, “We are so appreciative of the funds you are raising to sponsor me to go to Santa Fe to sell our beaded jewelry.” The International Folk Art Market taking place this July is providing Phoebe with a grant to promote the Olmakau Collective’s beadwork, but the women need an additional person to work the booth and boost sales.
“If we’re able to sell all the beadwork, we’ll be able to support our children’s education for at least a year,” Frida explained. Many of the members are single mothers whose sole income comes from a couple of tourist sales of a few dollars a day. A few days in Santa Fe, on the other hand, could earn them in excess of $15,000.
The revenue from Santa Fe would enable the mothers to pay the 50% contribution required in Kenya to participate in the mandatory secondary education for their children, as well as uniforms, books and food.
Later, Assistant Chief Nickson Parmisa elaborated that Sante Fe sales would also support scholarships for Maasai girls that are rescued from child marriage and genital mutilation. “While both are prohibited by Kenyan law and no longer approved by Maasai communities,” he explained, “poor parents who can’t afford to pay the public education fees sometimes resort to these practices, thereby claiming the girl is an adult which enables them to collect a bride price in cows and/or cash from her new, and often substantially older, husband.”
"As an Assistant Chief, I’m grateful to the Malibu Strong community for empowering our women through economic participation in the world marketplace,” He said. “And, in addition, Malibu can take credit for promoting women’s education and women’s rights.”
“Our mothers and grandmothers when teaching us how to bead tell us, ’A thread follows the path of a needle’,” Angela Koloi added to Phoebe’s comments. “It means that which is leading will guide the other,’ Hopefully, I will be going to Santa Fe with Phoebe, and we come back with contacts and ideas for all of our benefit.”
“We’re proud to have you wear our Maasai beadwork - both modern and traditional, added Francisca Suyianka. “We, Maasai women, and you, Malibu women, share values of strength and perseverance, and we hope when you wear this necklace, you will be filled with the happiness you bring to us.”
Thanks to Acacia Moyo for arranging my visit to Kitengela. To donate, click here or visit www.acaciamoyo.org.
To donate, please go to Bibi’s Pledge Campaign for the Maasai.
Or, for donations requiring a tax credit, please click here.
To buy a Malibu Strong Maasai Necklace, please click here.
Photo Credits:
Photograph by Bibi Jordan
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