My name is Saranto Lekoloi a mother and a star beader from Kalama Conservancy. I’ve been beading for years and it’s something I deeply love. But it’s more than just a craft. Beading has changed my life.
Through this work, I’ve been able to start a small business of selling food stuffs, feed my children, and take care of our basic needs — things I once struggled with because of only depending on livestock. I am not alone. Fifteen women in our group have also found strength through beading.
Whenever we earn from our beadwork, we come together and save the money in our village saving and loan association group. Every month, we save twice. By the end of last year, we had saved KES 120,000. We started small, putting aside just KES 250 each — KES 50 for emergencies and KES 200 for savings.
That money came through for us when it mattered most — on January 9th, when our children were returning to school. Every mother was relieved.
The least amount one woman received was KES 9,000. Many of us got between KES 13,000 and KES 15,000. That meant school fees were paid. Uniforms were bought. Smiles returned to our homes.
What touches my heart the most is this: the women who used to save the least are now the ones saving the most. We are growing. We are learning. We are supporting each other.
This beading journey has not only helped me it has helped all of us. It’s more than income. It’s dignity. It’s hope.