From Western Kenya to Being Empowered in Kibera.

Evalyne Akoth Owino, a young woman from Western Kenya, is a participant in our Kibera Women’s Empowerment Program. She moved to Nairobi a year ago and now lives in Kibera, Nairobi, with her older sister.

After completing high school, Evalyne realised the importance of productive engagement. “I couldn’t afford college fees for my desired course in food and beverage, so I decided to join the program instead,” she said.

Evalyne heard about the program through her sister, who is a tailor and a friend of the program’s facilitator. Despite her initial desire to learn from the teacher in her sister’s shop, the facilitator suggested joining the program. “My sister has been a constant source of support,” Evalyne shared. She has been part of the program for three months. Initially, she had no knowledge of sewing machines. Under the teacher’s guidance, she learnt basic sewing techniques and can now confidently create various garments.

“When we started, we purchased fabrics and practiced cutting into straight lines, circles, and zigzags under the teacher’s instructions. We then learnt how to hem and create buttonholes, then iron and present them to the facilitator. Today, I can confidently sew a baby dress, a shirt, and even a short skirt,” she continued.

However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. There are days when she would come to class only to find that there were no fabrics available, making it impossible for her to practice sowing. Additionally, she has a health condition: her middle finger on her right hand often bleeds or produces pus, causing her a lot of pain, making her unable to do hard manual labor. She says she has sought medical advice and received medication, but unfortunately, the situation hasn’t improved. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic about the future.

“I see a significant change in my life through this program. My dream is to set up my own business, generate some income, employ others, especially from my community, and empower them with skills that can help them sustain their families. I recently made a shirt for someone and she was very pleased with the result. I only bought thread, buttons, and glue. The skills I’ve gained here have also allowed me to give back to the community. I made a skirt, which I am planning to give to a high school girl who is a good friend of mine. This will provide her with an additional pair of clothes for school. By doing this, I hope to inspire hope within our community. I am also willing to volunteer to teach other girls the basics of sewing and refer them to this program for more advanced lessons,” she expressed.

Evalyne is grateful for the program and the friendships she has formed. She also emphasised the need for more sewing machines to increase their chances of employment and entrepreneurship.