I was overwhelmed last week as I visited the Maili Saba Widows project TI started in November of last year. I didn’t expect to find the women not only maintaining, but expanding their business.

In November, TI began a widow’s project for 5 young widows, all having school aged children. The project had the women making reusable women’s sanitary products. This proved to be a great success as the widows learned to use the machines.

But the women wanted to do more, to expand their business. Now they are making slips, school uniforms and mending clothes. They open the shop, located in the market, at noon every day and work until 6:00pm. There are now 6 women, proficient in using the 4 sewing machines. They are earning a daily profit and for the first time since they lost their husbands, they are able to provide for their family without depending on handouts from others.

Imagine going from depending on begging for food to making their own money by the work of their hands. Self worth in these women is evident.

The success of this project and the work ethic of the widows have given me a greater hope for the future of Kenya.