Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers is a women's self-help project registered under the Ministry of Culture and Social Services started under the umbrella of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa on July 4th, 1977. It was started with the aim of training poor widowed and single women from the surrounding villages of Nanyuki in the craft of Spinning, Knitting and Weaving, with the main objective of making them self-reliant. Nanyuki was targeted because it is one of the major wool producing areas in Kenya, its weather being favorable for sheep herding and raising. It was agreed from the beginning that half of the proceeds acquired would go directly to the women involved in the project and the other half would be retained by the center. Our purpose in visiting the Spinners & Weavers was to evaluate their needs and consider this organization as a recipient of donor help. We are proud to say that we found this organization to be a worth-while self-help project, and we hope that viewers like yourself will browse their online site and make purchases of fine handmade items and contribute to their well-being.
Project Director Mrs Anne Warutere explains the mission and the state of the women's cooperative.
Project Director Mrs Anne Warutere (top left)shows us around the facilites, while participating women work on their goods.
Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, 2006. With different jobs to perform in this labor intensive industry, women work all day to earn a living.
Wool and School, 2006. Piles of light and dark wool stand ready for processing (left image). (Center image) The twelve sheep that the women's cooperative owns graze in the empty lot out back, while the elementary school (right) is also located on the property. For information on our relief efforts, please go to the Kenyan Relief page.
Nanyuki School Children, 2006. Students of two elementary classes were thrilled by our surprise visit, and proudly sang a a few songs in welcoming us to their school.
Linus discusses the conditions and future of the cooperative's school with the elementary school teacher (right). We hope the generous donatioin that our contributors made will help these deserving women provide for themselves and their children.
