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The Birth of a Dream: Leila's Journey
My name is Leila, and I am a wife, mother of two, and a social worker called to ministry. My journey of faith began in 2009. While I first encountered the women of Kipsongo Slum back in 2010, I was young and unable to truly grasp their reality or the depth of their struggle.
The true catalyst for this ministry came in 2017. Following a profound personal loss, I was overwhelmed by pain and sadness. As I struggled to navigate my grief, a friend offered a crucial piece of perspective: I was fortunate. Not for the loss, but because I had an incredible support system—friends, family, and the resources to take time to heal. At first, the thought angered me, but God soon made it clear: countless women experience similar losses without any safety net, especially the resilient women of Kipsongo.
A New Perspective: The Challenge of Poverty
This realization prompted me to meet with five women I knew from Kipsongo. I asked them directly how I could help. Their response was deeply clarifying: while they experience tremendous loss, pain, and sorrow, they have no time to process or grieve. Their immediate, overwhelming challenge is poverty. With multiple children to feed and no source of income, their days are consumed by the necessity to beg or scavenge just to survive.
The message was clear: before we could address emotional hardship, we needed to tackle financial instability. We could not simply provide handouts; we needed to create a path to empowerment.
From Idea to Enterprise
In August 2017, we launched the idea of table banking, a micro-finance model enabling the five founding women to access capital and start small businesses. Many doubted this venture would succeed, but through persistence and prayer, we moved forward.
Our effort gained crucial momentum in February 2018 when Eldonna, a missionary serving in Kitale, visited Kipsongo. Inspired by the ladies' welcome and their stories, she envisioned a market for their potential. Soon after, the social enterprise "Baskets and Beads" was born.
For two years, we met weekly. Along the way, more women joined. We established governance structures, rules, and regulations, learning to communicate, resolve conflict, and build a strong community based on mutual encouragement and faith.
The Impact
Seven years later, what started with five women has grown to a group of over 24 ladies from Kitale and Mount Elgon. They have transformed into successful businesswomen and community leaders.
Our dream remains to: Create sustainable social enterprises and provide employment mentorship to build self-sustaining families through entrepreneurship or dignified employment, one woman at a time.
Akuleu
- My name is Akuleu, I am 89 years old. Mother of 7 children.
- I was born in Lodwar and during the tribal clashes between the Turkana’s and the Pokot’s we ran to Kitale for safety, we ended up on the streets of Kitale then we moved to Kipsongo slum as internally displaced people. We did not have houses we stayed in plastic bags houses this caused so much diseases like Tuberculosis.
- Before Baskets and Beads I had lost all hope of living and even having a better life, after I lost my daughter I felt so lonely and sad.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have hope and I have also found a family that cares for me, am also able to make money from the baskets and beads, I can pay for my medical expenses.
- My dream is to be able to move from the slum and have a place I can call mine.
Akuleu, 89, is a mother of seven and a grandmother of ten. Her journey to Kitale began after being displaced by tribal clashes, a common plight for many women and children seeking a safer place to live. She found herself homeless on the streets before settling in the Kipsongo slum, where she built a simple house from plastic bags to shelter her family.
Life in the slum was a struggle. When a cholera outbreak swept through the malnourished population, Akuleu suffered the devastating loss of her daughter—a hard blow that left her heartbroken. In the years that followed, she was forced to search for food in dumpsters and beg on the streets to survive.
Her life was forever changed when she was welcomed into the Baskets and Beads Kenya family. Overwhelmed with emotion, she tearfully told the group that in losing a daughter, God had given her more than a daughter; he had given her a whole family. She is now an artisan specializing in Turkana baskets, trivets, and brooms. Thanks to the income she earns and the support of the food pack program, Akuleu is healthier and stronger. She is no longer forced to beg for food and is now able to provide for her grandchildren and cover her medical expenses. Despite her old age, she is happy, strong, and able to care for her family.
Angela
- My name is Angela, I am 53 years old. A mother of 7 children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I was on the streets and dumpster trying to feed my family. I could not take my kids to school or even afford medicare for them.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have joined a group of women who encourage and support me, I have also become a business woman I am able to sell my beads.
- My dream is to be able to grow and become and example to my children and an inspiration that it doesn’t matter what you have gone through you can still make in life if you believe.
Angela, a 53-year-old mother of seven, was born in Lodwar before moving to the Kipsongo slum in Kitale. After her parents passed away, she was forced to beg on the streets to feed her siblings. Life became so difficult that she entered an early marriage. Her husband was unemployed, which led to constant fighting and violence. With no way to feed her seven children, she began to salvage food from dumpsters. She couldn't afford medical care for her family, and because she couldn't provide three meals a day for her children, some of them went to the streets to beg.
When she heard about the Baskets and Beads group, she eagerly joined, seeing an opportunity to better her life. Angela has a special talent for making Turkana baskets, trivets, and trays. Her children are now in school, and when floods swept away her house, Baskets and Beads helped her build a new, stronger home for her family. Like many of the women, her dream is to move out of the Kipsongo slum and have a place she can call home.
Ann Erupe
- My name is Ann; I am 31 years old. I am a mother of four children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I used to go to the dumpster and look for food, and I would go to the streets to beg.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to make and sell beads and am able to provide for my children, I no longer beg.
- My dream is to make a better life for my children by taking them to school and giving them an opportunity at life like other children.
Ann, 31, is a mother of four who grew up in the Kipsongo slum. At age five, she was already accompanying her mother to the dumpster to look for food. In the evenings, they would beg on the streets. At 12, Ann started begging on her own, but when she found it difficult to make money, she and other girls began selling their bodies to survive. This life was harsh and dangerous, filled with cold nights and violent men who sometimes hit her and refused to pay. Ann hated her life so much she wanted to die.
When the first man showed her affection, she married him, but life remained difficult, especially after she had children. With extra mouths to feed, she knew she had to find a different path. She was captivated by the stories of change from the women in Baskets and Beads and felt she belonged with them.
Since joining the group, Ann's life has changed significantly. She can now provide food for her children and is learning tailoring through an opportunity the group provides. She proudly calls herself a businesswoman. Her dream is to have a stable and safe home for her children.
Ann Tata
- My name is Ann Tata, I am 34 years old. A mother of four children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slums.
- Before baskets and beads I was in so much pain, seeing my children at home not going to school, not being able to feed them was breaking my heart I wanted a different life but I didn’t know how and where to begin.
- Since baskets and beads I have been to take my kids to school, my girl is in form three thanks to the sponsorship program provided by baskets and beads, am able to make and sell my beads I can put food in the table for my family.
- My dream is to have a safe place my children can call home.
My name is Ann, I am 34 years old and a mother of four. I grew up in the Kipsongo slum. My parents couldn't afford to pay for my school, so I joined my mother on the streets to beg for food or change outside supermarkets. She would take me and my siblings to the dumpster to scrap for food. This life was hard since we couldn’t even afford three meals a day. I knew I was doomed and that my life would amount to nothing. As I got older, I got involved with the wrong crowd and started drinking. When I got pregnant with my first child, I had no way of supporting another human, so I started selling alcohol. This life was full of hardship; sometimes I would spend days in police cells.
When a friend told me about the Baskets and Beads group, I immediately joined. I knew I had to give my children a better and different life than mine. This group gave me hope and a reason to work even harder. All I wanted was to take my children to school, but due to the high cost of school fees and requirements, I wasn’t able to take my daughter to high school. When I told the group, they were able to help, and she joined the sponsorship program. Now my daughter is in school, and that made me feel loved and accepted. It encouraged me to dream of a better tomorrow.
Baskets and Beads has changed my life. Now, I am able to make and sell products and earn an income. Last year, we had a conference where we were taught about business, and that has helped me understand how to run a successful business. I am proud to say that I have a side hustle selling groceries and am able to provide for my family's day-to-day needs. My dream is to increase our income and make it more regular. I would also love to move out of the slum and have a safe place for my children.
Daisy
- My name is Daisy; I am 31 years old. I am a mother of five children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I was on the streets and on the dumpster looking for food.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to make something good of my life I can make and sell beads and be able to provide for my children and buy my insulin injection.
- My dream to move out of the Kipsongo slum.
Daisy, 31, is a mother of five. She grew up in the Kipsongo slum and became an orphan at the age of nine. With nowhere to go, she ran to the streets, but the harsh and cold nights left her sick with tuberculosis, forcing her to return to her aunt's home in the slum. Her aunt sent her to the dumpster to find food for the family. Daisy longed to go to school and, though she never had the chance, she promised herself that her children would get an education.
She married, but life was not easy. She lost two pregnancies due to a lack of medical care, a stress that caused her husband to leave. After having five children, her health began to deteriorate. Doctors kept diagnosing her with malaria, typhoid, or brucellosis, but she never got better. Eventually, further tests revealed she had diabetes.
After joining the Baskets and Beads group, Daisy found incredible support. They helped her see a doctor who explained how to live with diabetes and even bought her medication. This group has changed her life for the better, and they continue to help her with her medical care. With her health improving each day, she has regained her strength and hope. She can now properly care for her children. Her dream is to own her own business and have a home with running water.
Dinah
- My name is Dinah, I am 46 years old. I am a mother of eleven children.
- I grew up in Lodwar then moved to Kitale and settled in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I would go to the streets to beg for food, and I would also go to the dumpster to look for food.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able learn about business, savings and money. I can proudly say that I am a business lady.
- My dream is to have my own house where it is safe and far from the slum.
My name is Dinah, I am 46 years old and a mother of eleven. I grew up in Lodwar, but due to the harsh desert climate, we moved to Kitale to the Kipsongo slum where most of our relatives were living. Life in the slum was hard, and my parents hustled to make ends meet. I got married at an early age, and married life with children was very difficult. I started going to the streets to beg, but when that didn’t work, I joined other women to look for food in the dumpster. We would also collect scrap metal to sell. As my children reached five years old, they would join me and help me look for food.
In my heart, I dreamt of a better life for my children, but I didn’t know how to give it to them. Some of them were fortunate enough to go to school through children’s homes, which was better than them staying at home. I joined Baskets and Beads when it first started; I was among the first five ladies. We had big dreams but didn't know how we would achieve them, but we believed. We put in the work and prayed, and more women joined the group. We have grown to more than 20 ladies now, and we can see the progress. We are able to make and sell our beads, our children are in school, and we can afford to go to the hospital for treatment.
We are not where we want to be, but we are not where we were before. My dream is to move out of the Kipsongo slum and have a safe place for my children.
Dorcas Iris
- My name is Dorcas, I am 35 years old a mother of five children.
- I grew up in streets of Kitale and the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I was selling illegal alcohol, I had no dreams of a better life, my life was full of pain and hopelessness.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to turn my life around and stop selling alcohol now I make beads and baskets that I sell and make good income. BNB has sponsored me to train in tailoring and now am able to make dresses, skirts, dog bandana and all kinds of clothing, I never knew I would be a leader and that people will respect me, my life has changed for good.
- My dream is I to have a home of my own away from the kipsongo slum, and to be able to raise my kids away from the slum.
At 35, Dorcas is a resilient single mother of five children. Her early life was marked by hardship, growing up on the streets of Kitale, Kenya, before moving to the Kipsongo slum. Desperate to provide for her family, she sold illegal alcohol, a path that often landed her in jail and left her children to fend for themselves. Despite the desperate circumstances, she felt the weight of her actions, knowing she was contributing to the breaking of other families.
Her life began to change when she was offered a new path. She joined Baskets and Beads Kenya as one of the first five women in the group, driven by a deep desire to build a better life for her children. Since then, she has not only stopped selling alcohol but has become a skilled artisan, creating beautiful seed bead baskets, handbags, and various necklaces. She is also a key member of the sewing group, which produces a range of items from aprons and dresses to dog bandanas and table sets.
Dorcas's transformation extends beyond her craft. She has risen to become the Kenya Team Manager for Baskets and Beads and is a respected leader in her community. This is a significant achievement, as it challenges local tribal traditions where women rarely hold such positions or have a voice in community decisions. Her strength, confidence, and daily determination to improve her life and the lives of those around her are an inspiration to all.
Elibit
- My name is Elibit, I am 67 years old. A mother of four children.
- I grew up in Lodwar in Turkana Kenya, later we came to Kitale and settled in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads all I knew was being handed out things, I would depend on others for help. I would go the streets to beg and I would wait on donations.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to sell my beads and be self employed, it has given me confidence in myself and my work.
- My dream is to have a regular orders so that I can have a regular income.
My name is Elibit, I am 67 years old and a mother of four. We came to Kitale from Lodwar on foot, fleeing tribal clashes between the Turkana and Pokot tribes. We walked for miles and hitchhiked on trucks until we arrived. We lived on the streets before moving to the Kipsongo slum. My parents had no source of income, so all we could do was go to the streets to beg and to the dumpster to scrap for food. I did this for most of my childhood before I was forced into an early marriage by my parents, who hoped it would be the answer to all our problems. Instead, it was the beginning of them. My husband was an alcoholic with no source of income, so I had to work menial jobs to provide for my family.
My children were lucky; they got sponsors who took them to school, and that gave me hope for a bright future. My son graduated, and his life changed, but sadly not for long—he passed away and left me with two granddaughters to care for.
I joined Baskets and Beads when there were only five of us. We have walked this journey together, and I have seen changes in my life and the lives of the other women in the group. We thank God for how far we have come, and I believe we are still going far. Lives have transformed from alcoholism to business, from jealousy and fights to love, peace, and respect. We have a voice now in our community; people can actually listen to us and see the progress we have made. My dream is for every woman in the slum to find the kind of love and support that we have.
Esther Abei
- My name is Esther; I am 42 years old. A mother of three children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads all I knew how to do was sell alcohol and going to the dumpster to look for food. I didn't know any other kind of life, I could not dream because I saw my parents live this kind of life.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to make and sell beads, I no longer sell alcohol now I can dream and hope again.
- My dream is for the baskets and beads to expand so we can have regular orders.
Esther, 42, is a mother of three. Her family moved from Lodwar and settled in the Kipsongo slum, where her mother started selling illicit alcohol. From a young age, Esther was forced to help with the business, and, like her mother, she began drinking to numb her pain. Without the chance to go to school, her world was limited to the difficult and dangerous life of selling alcohol.
She was eventually arrested and spent six months in jail, a period that left her feeling hopeless. After her release, all she wanted was to change her life, but she had no idea how. She married and had two children but later separated from her husband, forcing her to struggle to provide for them. She often went to the dumpster to find food.
When friends told her about Baskets and Beads, she didn’t hesitate to join. She was one of the first women to benefit from the group's table banking program, taking a loan to start her own bead-making business. Now, she is able to provide for her children and build a better life for them. Her dream is to give them the life she never had and find a safe, stable place for her family to live.
Evelyn
- My name is Evelyn; I am 36 years old. A mother of five children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I was going to the dumpster to look for food to feed my family.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to sell beads, we also have a table banking system that we are able to save and borrow money to boost our business.
- My dream is for my children to go to school, For me to have a safe home for my family.
My name is Everlyn, I am 36 years old and a mother of five. I grew up in the Kipsongo slum. At the age of eight, I was among the many children who went to a drop-in center where we received a basic education, breakfast, and lunch. In the afternoon, I would go to town to look for scrap metal to sell. I would give the money to my mother, who would drink it all instead of buying food for us. At 15, I ran away and got pregnant. I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed with the man out of convenience. Life with a child was even harder, so every day I would tie my baby on my back and go look for scrap to sell just to buy food for us.
When I heard from other ladies about Baskets and Beads, I didn’t hesitate to join. I was ready to follow the rules for a chance at a better life. They taught me how to live in a community with love and how to be a businesswoman. Now, I am able to make and sell beads and provide for my family. My dream is for us to get more market for our products so we can get a regular income.
Fridah
- My name is Fridah; I am 35 years old. A mother of three children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I was a nobody I didn't have any dreams or hope, I could not make ends meet for my family. I was giving up.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to believe and hope again my life has a meaning now, I have self confidence and I know I will make it in life.
- My dream is to be a business woman and be able to move out of the slum and have a safe place for my children to live.
My name is Fridah, I am 35 years old and a mother of three. I grew up in the Kipsongo slum after my parents, who are from Lodwar, settled there when I was very young. All I've ever known is the slum life—scrapping for food in dumpsters, begging on the streets, and sometimes stealing just to survive. That was my childhood; I didn’t know anything else.
As I reached adulthood, I started to see that a different, better life existed—a life of security, peace, and dignity. That’s when I began to dream of a better future for my own children. But I knew that achieving this dream wouldn't be possible without a helping hand. So, when I heard about the Baskets and Beads group, I knew it was a sign from God. I realized I wasn’t alone with this crazy dream; my fellow sisters in Christ also wanted the same things for themselves and their children. They welcomed me with open arms and taught me how to be a businesswoman. Now, I am able to make and sell beads. I’ve also been trained in tailoring and am part of the tailoring group where we make dresses, aprons, table sets, and more.
My dream is to find a place outside of the slums for my children and me, and to have a small shop where I can make dresses and sell my beads. I know now that dreams are valid, and they do come true when you believe and work hard.
Hellen Amonea
- My name is Hellen, I am 44 years old a mother of 6 children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I did not have anything to earn me money so it was hard for me to feed my family I had to go to the dumpster and look for food.
- Since Baskets and Beads my life has changed I am able to make and sell beads and am able to provide food for my family, also with the seminar and the teaching about business I have been able to manage my business in a way that its benefiting me.
- My dream is to move from the slum and have a home of my own.
Hellen is a 48-year-old mother of six. Her parents moved to Kitale when she was a baby and eventually settled in the Kipsongo slum. Without any access to education, she and her siblings were forced to beg on the streets for food. As she grew older, life became even harder without a formal education. Thinking it would solve her problems, she entered an early marriage, but her husband was an alcoholic who drank all of his earnings. To feed her six children, Hellen began searching for food in dumpsters. When this wasn't enough, she was forced to sell her body to make ends meet. On the streets, she faced violence from dangerous men and was often arrested by the police. She began to lose all hope.
When her sister told her about the Baskets and Beads group, Hellen jumped at the opportunity for a new life. She stopped going to the streets and began making and selling beautiful bead necklaces and baskets. Hellen has a natural talent for making seed bead jewelry. Her dream is to one day own a piece of land and a house away from the Kipsongo slum, and to give her children the education that she was never able to get.
Jacklyn Atiato
- My name is Jacklyn. I am 40 years old. A mother of eight children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I couldn’t provide three meals a day for my children, I was weak and sick most of the time and I couldn’t do anything, so my kids starved and were not able to go to school.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to get the medical treatment that I need and through the sponsorship program my son finished High school and about to join the university.
- My dream is to be able to provide basic needs for my family and give them a life that I didn’t have. Also, I want to get out of the Kipsongo slum and have a safe place for my family.
Jacklyn, 46, is a mother of ten. Her childhood in the Kipsongo slum began when her squatter parents moved there. She never had a chance to go to school and started working at a very young age, selling fruit on the streets of Kitale. This life led her to spend time with street children, and she began sniffing glue to ward o the pangs of hunger and the cold.
She became pregnant on the streets and, not knowing what to do, returned to her parents' home. She was unable to care for the baby and left her with her mother. Later, she married and had ten more children. When she found herself unable to feed them, she resorted to scavenging for food in the dumpster. She tried her best, but nothing seemed to work, and she lost hope when one of her children became a street kid. This devastating event became a powerful motivation for change, not just for herself, but for her children.
Jacklyn joined Baskets and Beads, believing it would change her life for the better. Today, she makes baskets and necklaces and is able to provide for her family. Thanks to the table banking program, she also has a side business. Her dream is to move her family out of the Kipsongo slum and into a safe and secure home.
Mary Kamais
- My name is Mary, I am 39 years old, a mother of four children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I was on the streets of Kitale begging and trying to make ends meet, I also used to go to the dumpster to look food.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to make and sell beads which enables me to provide basic needs for my family.
- My dream is to become a businesswoman and to be able to move out of the slum and have a good life.
At 39, Mary is a proud mother of four. Her journey began in the Kipsongo slum, where she started begging on the streets at the age of five. This life became her norm, and she never had the opportunity to go to school. At 14, Mary became pregnant, and the immense pressure of raising a child while still a child herself led her to alcoholism. For a time, she neglected her baby, seeking to numb her pain.
She eventually found some stability when she married the first man who showed her kindness, and together they had four more children. To feed her growing family, she began selling illicit alcohol. This new path brought its own dangers, with frequent arrests and a stream of different people putting her children at risk. Mary yearned for a different life, but she didn’t know how to find it.
When she heard about the Baskets and Beads group, she saw an opportunity for change and seized it. She committed to the group’s rules, gave up selling alcohol, and began creating beautiful baskets and beads. Through her work, Mary has found a renewed sense of confidence and pride. Her dream is to provide a safe home and a good education for her children so they can have a bright future. She is particularly proud of her son, who is performing well in high school, a testament to the hope she now holds for all her children.
Patricia Lele
- My name is Patricia, I am 43 years old, a mother of 5 children a 20year old, 17 year old, 15 year old, 9 year old and 5 year old.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
Patricia is 42 years old, a mother of 5 children. Patricia and her kids came from Lodwar on the back of a food truck to Kitale which is 184.5mile(297 KM) by road. They came to Kitale in search of a better life, but when they arrived they did not know anyone so they lived on the streets before they moved to the Kipsongo slum. She lived in a house built with plastic bags, life was really hard for her. Patricia started selling the beads on the streets but most of the time she did not make any sales. When she joined baskets and beads she had a chance to sell her beads and be able to provide for her children. Patricia makes paper beads, Turkana baskets, Christmas angels and seed bead bracelets among other things, she is hardworking, determined and generous, her dream is for her children to get an equal opportunity in education and a better life. She wants to move out of Kipsongo slum and have a place of her own where her children will grow up and call it home. Since she joined baskets and beads she is able to take her children to school, provide food, healthcare, and take them to school. She is a step closer to making her dreams a reality.
Pauline Esokony
- My name is Pauline, I am 40 years old, a mother of 3 children, 17 year old, 15 year old, and a 10 year old.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I was struggling a lot I could not even provide three meals for my family, I could not pay for my children school.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to go back to tailoring school and sharpen my skills, am a business lady and am able to provide for my family.
- My dream is for my children to get an education and have a better life than mine.
Pauline was born in the Kipsongo slum, her Father left her mother when she was 5 years old. Life was really hard for her mother to provide food, clothes and shelter for Pauline and her siblings, she had to stop going to school and was forced to join her mother on the streets to go to the dumpster to look for food.
At age 15 she got pregnant and the guy did not acknowledge the kid , so the Catholic missionaries took her in with the baby and they gave her basic training in tailoring. At 18 years she started looking for a job, it was not easy because she met so many people especially men who wanted to sleep with her before giving her the job, she was lucky to join National youth service which taught her more discipline and service, after the service she got a job. She met the father of her 2 kids, few months later. She heard about our group and what we were doing and she immediately wanted to join , she said this is where she belongs and she is very happy and grateful to be a member of Baskets and Beads, she makes Aprons, dog bandanas, tables sets, dresses, skirts and anything to do with tailoring. She wants to advance her knowledge in tailoring and she joined our tailoring sponsorship program.
Pauline’s dream is to give her children a better life in terms of education, health, living conditions, and nutrition.
Phostine Simiyu
- My name is Phostine , I am 40 years old and a mother of 3 children.
- Before Baskets and Beads I used to go to peoples farm and do weeding for them and get paid 100/- shillings a day.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have a small groceries business and I rare chickens for sale and also to sell the eggs thanks to the support that I was given.
- My dream is to get land and build my own house and have a place of my own.
Phostine, a 45-year-old mother of three, was married at a very young age. She endured domestic abuse from her husband, who eventually chased her and her children out of their home. With nowhere else to go, they returned to her father's place, where she was given a tiny house to live in. Life was incredibly difficult as she had no work to support her family. A neighbor, Joan, who was a member of the Baskets and Beads group, saw her struggle and invited her to join.
Joining the group gave Phostine new hope. She found friends and a supportive community of women who stood by her. With their help, her daughter June was able to attend school through a sponsorship program, and for a while, life felt good. But then, disaster struck again when floods swept away her house. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but she lost everything. The Baskets and Beads group quickly built her a new home and bought her new belongings, but this support stirred jealousy among her brothers. When she started farming and raising chickens to provide for her family, they chased her o the land, claiming a woman could not inherit property from her father.
Once again homeless, Phostine became overwhelmed with stress, which caused her to become very sick and develop high blood pressure. The women in the group rallied around her, providing encouragement and helping her with medical care. This support enabled her to get back on her feet. Today, she has a place to live with her children and is back to raising chickens. Her daughter is even joining the university this year, a testament to God's faithfulness and goodness.
Pricilla
- My name is Priscilla, I am 26 years old. A mother of four children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads I was going to the dumpster to look for food, and I would also sell alcohol to make money.
- Since baskets and beads I have been able to stop selling alcohol and now I sell my beads and am able to support my family.
- My dream is to open a small shop to sell groceries and also to go and learn hairdressing.
My name is Priscilla, I am 26 years old and a mother of four. I was born in the Kipsongo slum and wasn’t able to attend a formal school. I joined the feeding program in the slum, where we learned the basics and received one meal a day. In the afternoons, I would go to the streets to beg for money to buy food. Sometimes, I would join my mother to work for people just to be fed.
I got pregnant at an early age and was forced to get married. Life became more difficult with children, and I didn’t know what I was doing since I was young and not ready for a family. I wanted to run away so many times, but I had nowhere to go. I dreamt of a better life, but there was no escape. I had seen so many people live and die in that cycle of poverty that I had no hope.
When I first heard about Baskets and Beads, I was reluctant since we had seen so many groups form and then fall apart. I thought this one would be no different, but after a year, they were still strong. I decided to join, and it has truly changed my mindset. I am now able to dream big and work on my dreams. We are not only making and selling beads; we are learning about God, life, business, and community. These ladies have taught me how to love. My dream is to be a big businesswoman and to be able to get land and build a house for my family away from the slum.
Rael Sinde
- My name is Rael, I am 38 years old. A mother of 4 children.
- I grew up on the streets of Kitale, Life was tough at home so I went on the streets to find a way out.
- Before Baskets and Beads, all I knew was hard life I never believed anyone would help or support me to change my life.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to learn new skills and techniques now am able to sew and make trivets out of bottle caps. My children are in school and my daughter through the sponsorship program is in College.
- My dream is to own my tailoring shop where I can make clothes and beads and sell.
Rael, a 38-year-old mother of four, grew up in Kitale. Her parents were unable to send her to school, and she was sent to the streets to sell bananas to earn money for food. Her father was an alcoholic and a violent man. Rael’s life was filled with pain and bitterness. After being molested on the streets, her family saw it as a shame and forced her into an early marriage. One day, her husband left and never came back, leaving Rael as the sole provider.
She spent her days doing laundry for people and her evenings selling tomatoes on the streets. One of her customers introduced her to the Baskets and Beads group, and it changed her life forever. The group helped her start a business that allowed her to provide for her children. Rael is hardworking and focused; she is a member of the tailoring group, making dresses and skirts, and she is well-known for her unique bottle cap trivets. Her daughter, Daisy, was sponsored by the group and has since finished high school and is now in college studying information technology. This is a monumental achievement, as she is the first in her family to attend college, giving hope to everyone. Rael's dream is to consistently sell her products and have a stable monthly income, as well as a home for herself and her children.
Selina Amana
- My name is Selina, I am 52 years old, I am a mother of 7 children.
- My parents came from Lodwar when I was young and they settled in the Kipsongo slum, where I grew up.
- Before Baskets and Beads I used to hawk my beads in town, this was difficult because of the insecurity and the harsh weather.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to sell my beads and also learned about business now I have a small shop that I sell things to the community.
- My dream is to learn more about money and business and how to grow, also I would like to get a place that my children can call home.
Selina is a 54-year-old mother of seven. She was born in Lodwar but moved to Kitale with her parents during the tribal clashes of 1982, eventually settling in the Kipsongo slum. She married at a young age, but her husband tragically died from a waterborne disease caused by poor sanitation. Left to fend for herself and her seven children, she was forced to look for food in dumpsters. When that wasn’t enough, she started selling alcohol, a business that was constantly challenged by police arrests. This was not the life she wanted for her children.
When she heard about the Baskets and Beads group, she was eager to join. We welcomed her with open arms and walked with her on her journey. She stopped selling alcohol and began to make beads and baskets. Selina excels at making paper bead necklaces and bracelets. She is now one of the leaders in the group and a respected member of the community, which has inspired other women to find their voices and fight against injustice. Her dream is to move out of the slum and finally have a place to call home. She also wants to help other women change their lives.
Sharon Lele
- My name is Sharon, am 35 years old a mother of 4 children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I was struggling a lot I could not provide three meals for my children, I could not take them to the hospital when they got sick.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to use my skills in sewing to make beautiful products and sell them , Baskets and Beads has helped me get market for my products and now am able to take care of my family.
- My dream is to move out of the slum and have a safe place for my children.
Sharon is a 35-year-old mother of four. She was born and raised in the Kipsongo slum. As a young girl, home life was so difficult that she ran away to the streets, but life there was dangerous and unwelcoming. She eventually returned to the slum and joined others in scavenging for food from dumpsters. By the grace of God, she was taken in by a kind stranger and placed in a group home where she learned how to sew.
When she heard about the Baskets and Beads group, she was thrilled to join. She is now a member of the tailoring group, where she makes beautiful dresses and dog bandanas. Her life has changed dramatically since she found a chance to showcase her talent and earn an income. She is now able to provide for her family, and her dream is to give her children the best education and move out of the Kipsongo slum.
Susan
- My name is Susan; I am 34 years old. A mother of eight children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before baskets and beads she didn't have any hope in life, she only knew what the slum could offer no future, no dreams.
- Since baskets and beads she has grown emotionally and spiritually, her dreams are becoming a reality, and she can't wait to see what God has for me.
- My dream is to change my mind set and to keep working hard and learning.
Susan, 34, is a mother of eight who grew up in the Kipsongo slum. Her dream was to become a nurse, but her parents couldn't afford to keep her in school. She dropped out in the fifth grade and had to work in menial jobs with her mother to make ends meet. She took any job she could find, even jobs that made her feel degraded. She married at a young age, and life became even harder after having children. With more mouths to feed, she began searching for food in the dumpster.
After joining the Baskets and Beads group, Susan started to feel hope. The women encourage, pray for, and teach each other. She began selling her beads and making enough money to start a side business selling vegetables. She can now provide basic needs for her children. Her dream is to give them a safe home and a proper education so they can achieve all their dreams. She also hopes to help other women in her community.
Hellen Nalimo
- My name is Hellen, A mother of two children.
- I was born in the Kipsongo slum.
Hellen Nalimo’s life, though only 33 years long, was defined by incredible resilience and deep love for her two children, Melody (15) and Oliver (8). Born and raised in the Kipsongo slum, her early life was marked by hardship. After enduring an abusive relationship, she became a single mother, struggling through any available work—including begging on the streets—to ensure her children were fed.
Hellen’s strength and spirit were evident, and she was among the very first women invited to join Baskets and Beads, becoming one of the original five founding members. She was known for her hardworking nature, her loving heart, and her kindness toward the other ladies. Full of life and hope, her home was often the first stop during our visits to Kipsongo, a place where we were always welcomed with laughter and shared prayer.
Sadly, Hellen’s health began to deteriorate in 2023 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Baskets and Beads helped her secure medication, but her poverty created formidable challenges to proper treatment. Lacking electricity and a refrigerator, she was unable to store the crucial insulin required for her regular doses. Furthermore, she could not afford to adhere to the strict diet recommended by her doctors.
Her last gathering with us was at the Baskets and Beads business conference in December 2024. Just weeks later, she became gravely ill and was rushed to the hospital. Due to poor healthcare and a critical delay in attention, she fell into hypoglycemic shock. Though she was eventually transferred to Eldoret for further treatment, the damage was irreversible. Hellen went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2025. She was buried in Lodwar, her family’s ancestral home.
Baskets and Beads is honored to carry Hellen’s legacy forward. Through our sponsorship program, we are now fully dedicated to supporting Melody and Oliver, providing for their education and ensuring they have the care they need to thrive.
Night Nanjala
- My name is Night Nanjala, I am 35 years old. A mother of five children.
- I grew up in the Kipsongo slum.
- Before Baskets and Beads I had given up on all hope I didn't think I could make something of myself.
- Since Baskets and Beads I have been able to change my perspective in life and I can dream again.
- My dream is to be able to provide for my children and take care of them.
My name is Night, and I am a 35-year-old mother of five children and a widow. My entire life has been spent in the Kipsongo slum, a place that has defined every day since I was born. I was never able to go to school because my parents simply could not afford it.
I married young and was blessed with five beautiful children. But then, disaster struck when my husband became gravely ill. We went to every hospital we could, but no one could identify his problem. We spent all our savings, and even the kind help of well-wishers couldn't stop his health from deteriorating. Seeing the person I loved get worse by the day was the toughest time for my family.
His illness was so heavy on me that I truly gave up on life. My children were suffering; I couldn't even provide three meals a day. This despair led me to resort to selling alcohol. But instead of life getting better, my husband passed away, leaving me alone to care for our five children. I didn't know what to do or how I would live on.
When I first heard about a group of ladies helping each other, I didn't want to hear about it; I had given up on all hope. But after attending one of their meetings, I felt completely at home. I knew this was what I wanted, and I became a member of Baskets and Beads.
Since joining, I have been encouraged, uplifted, and loved. They taught me how to start a business, manage money, and, most importantly, how to grow and love myself again. Now, I am able to dream and hope once more. My ultimate goal is to have a stable home for my children, to be able to provide for them, and give them the educational opportunities that I was denied.
MISSION
Create sustainable social enterprises/employment mentorship to build self sustaining families through entrepreneurship or employment one woman at a time.
VISION/PURPOSE STATEMENT
Until every Kenyan woman in poverty is fully supporting by their own contributions through sustainable businesses or employment. Eradicating poverty - we bring innovation, safety and service to those suffering from extreme poverty and hopelessness.