Maasai Women's Self-Help Group Project Summary

Naisosian, Tanzania

Introduction

About ten years ago members of the II Boru Lutheran Church in Arusha noticed that many young women in the area were on the edge of extreme poverty, living in abusive relationships or abandoned by their partners, and some were headed towards prostitution to survive.The women of the church decided to help them learn to sew and started the Naisosion Project

With a small investment of just a few thousand dollars, the project has been able to train at least 35 women to sew. Twenty of these graduates received their own sewing machines and two of the graduates continued as trainers for subsequent groups of women.

The training has had tremendous impact on their ability to take care of their families: the average family income in Tanzania is less than $1.00 a day, but graduates make an average of $8.00 per day, enabling them to improve family nutrition, pay school fees, and seek medical care.

Generous donations from Harambee and others have enabled Naisosion to grow into a thriving organization in Arusha. Sewing machines and enough cloth to begin a business have been provided for over 65 women. This has given them income, self respect, and independence.

Current Work

Harambee Centre has raised funds to expand the project by constructing and equipping a training facility that can accommodate more trainees and facilitate the development of a sewing cooperative.  Many more women will have the opportunity for a more secure future.

Harambee Centre
P.O. Box 6617
Portland, Oregon 97228-6617 USA
Telephone: (503) 819-4039
info@harambeecentre.org