Empowering Local Women to Self Sustainability

The women group comprise of 50 members. It is located in Jora village next to Kasigau hill which is one of the Taita hills that are part of the Eastern arc mountains covering 1000kmsq from Kenya to Tanzania.

The main economic activities of the area around is agriculture and mining of precious stones. However, the area receives minimal rainfall which makes it hard for sustainable agriculture to take place. Therefore the women group’s main focus is food security, while most men engage themselves in mining precious stones.

The women use local materials to weave baskets which they sell locally. Jora women group was started in 1974 by a group of women who came together in order to improve the livelihood of the community members. Over the years the group has participated in various activities which include goat keeping, jatrophas farming, basket weaving and maintaining their building premises. They have also been involved in various conservation efforts with other organizations.