HISTORY
Siena Anstis was introduced to the Women of Kireka in 2008 by Beatrice Achiro Okeny of Nuwechi. Originally, Siena helped the women raise funding to start a chicken rearing or tailoring co-operative through social media (blogging and Twitter). However, with the support and guidance of Project Diaspora (PD), the focus of the project switched from charity to a for-profit business initiative.
PD has helped brand the women’s work as the “Women of Kireka,” a local community-owned business with a lot of potential. Now working with Ida Horner and Ethnic Supplies in the UK and other distributors, the women have a growing market for their jewelry.
Key to Project Diaspora’s assistance is helping the women understand how a business works. International quality control, designs and shapes for different audiences, reaching out to different companies – all are small steps in the direction of creating a sustainable business model which depends on strategic profit.
STRATEGY
Project Diaspora is a firm believer in business over charity or aid. As we have repeatedly seen, aid can discourage local participants from implementing their own programs, developing their own ideas, or engaging in challenging and gainful employment. By focusing on a for-profit initiative, PD is naturally setting WoK on a course for independence through business-support in enhancing product quality, developing effective marketing and tapping local and international markets. In the long-run, WoK should be able to function as an independent business with minimal supervision and support from PD.
As PD is a volunteer-run organization, we take a 15% fee from all sales made by WoK to facilitate logistical costs of assisting WoK in business development, sales and group training.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- Train the Women of Kireka on the importance of quality in their work
- Train the Women of Kireka on business development, organizational structure, and English language skills
- Assist the Women of Kireka in discovering and reaching personal goals while also providing counseling to overcome past tragedies
- Market the Women of Kireka brand locally and internationally
- Assist the Women with their children’s school fees until they are able to sustainably pay for it themselves
- Promote Women of Kireka organization as a model for bottom-up approaches to inclusive poverty reduction initiatives
PROGRAMS
While PD’s main goal is to help WoK develop a local and international market for their products, PD also supports targeted personal and business development. Currently, PD runs a series of workshops for WoK focused on exploring and reaching personal goals, as well as developing improved English Language Skills. PD also helps WoK develop necessary business skills in accounting and organizational structure.