a m i h s e H a y n e K ES
M N A E C O
LOV E N I Z A AG
WWW.ETSY.COM/SHOP/HESHIMAKENYA
MAISHA, N. (SWAHILI), LIFE
Every Scarf Tells a Story. This is Ours.
The Maisha Collective is a peer-driven initiative of Heshima Kenya that fosters leadership and business management skills through the design and production of unique hand-dyed scarves and textiles. In managing the collective, refugee girls from Somalia, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi gain life-long business and marketing skills that develop their confidence and prepare them for future independence. The power of purchase inspires their journey to support, empower, and ultimately protect other young refugee women. 100 percent of the proceeds are reinvested into Heshima Kenya’s programs and the savings of Maisha Collective members. To order a scarf visit our online Etsy shop.
WWW.ETSY.COM/SHOP/HESHIMAKENYA
How It Works
THE MAISHA COLLECTIVE UTILIZES FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES TO EMPOWER AND PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE WORLDS REFUGEES — ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION, TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE.
WWW.ETSY.COM/SHOP/HESHIMAKENYA
How It Works
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT With supervision by Heshima Kenya staff, members drive all aspects of the Collective, including fielding orders, producing scarves and creating new designs, managing timesheets, holding weekly meetings, and making deadlines. Two project leaders manage the quality control of orders.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMITMENT All incoming members must complete Heshima Kenya’s seven-month tailoring course, voice their goals, and demonstrate commitment to their future independence. New members are voted in by a panel of collective members and must sign a contract. They also participate in a financial literacy course with a focus on saving concepts and budgeting.
WWW.ETSY.COM/SHOP/HESHIMAKENYA
How It Works
SAVING All members receive a fair cash stipend based on the hours they contribute each month. Heshima Kenya helps manage their personal savings accounts. TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT The emotional and physical scars experienced by unaccompanied refugee girls and young women are deep. To ensure that income earned is saved, all profits continue to support members’ case management needs, such as medical care. Heshima Kenya also provides material support as members transition into independent living arrangements within the community. For information on corporate sponsorship opportunities, fashion design partnerships, retail partners, and wholesale opportunities, please visit www.heshimakenya.org and click under Maisha/Partnerships. **All Maisha Collective business is conducted in a transparent and accountable manner, and cultural identity is respected. Furthermore, Heshima Kenya supports safe working conditions free of child labor.**
WWW.ETSY.COM/SHOP/HESHIMAKENYA