encouraging empathy for other life

The Oliveseed Women's Work Center provides micro-enterprise, vocational and marketing training, a cooperative environment for learning and collaboration, and a sales channel for Maasai women. The women are representatives from 20 families in the Emarti area, not far from Sekenani. This enterprise enables women to build their skills and their strengths — and earn an income for the first time in their lives. You can see the joy and confidence that blossoms here. With their income, the women are supporting large extended families and keeping their kids in school. 

The women were already highly skilled bead artisans when they joined the Women's Work Center and while here have developed additional designs to appeal to buyers at safari camps. We purchase high-quality glass beads and local leather for them to work with. The women are also now highly skilled in sewing, and the Center is fully outfitted with sewing and serging machines and everything else needed to make high-quality fabric and canvas items. An experienced sewing trainer on site is part of the team. One of our top priorities is making reusable sanitary kits for teen girls to help them stay in school, addressing the tragedy of the high drop-out rate locally and high teen pregnancy rate. We are passionate about keeping the region's daughters in school.​​