Artisan Spotlight: Have Hope

ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT Basket Weaving

Have Hope began in Kenya as a community outreach ministry of Mercy House Global. Twenty women in the Kariobangi slum have been meeting for Bible study since 2010. With a need to improve their lives, they began making paper bead jewelry as a way to receive sustainable income for themselves and their families.

They called their group “Have Hope“ because they did not have any, but they desired to change their hopeless situations. These women love learning new skills. It is beautiful and humbling to work alongside them and watch them

Through a desire to become more sustainable and provide consistent work, Have Hope, began training in 2022 to become a basket-weaving group. Sisal is a natural resource grown across Kenya and basket weaving is an age-old tradition. This exciting endeavor requires training and time, but we are excited that the women are halfway through the process. Becoming a basketweaving group means that the women of Have Hope have learned another trade to be able to have dignified work and earn sustainable wages for themselves and their families.