Kaseve Project: Weaving Baskets, Weaving Hope 

 In the quiet hills of Kaseve, Ithanga in Machakos County, live women whose stories are written not on paper, but in the rhythmic movements of their hands. These are women of strength, widows, and grandmothers who continue to hold their families together despite hardship, raising grandchildren and nurturing hope with little to no external support. 

Among them lies a centuries-old art form that speaks louder than words: the art of weaving. In Kaseve, weaving isn't just a way to make baskets; it's a cultural language, a therapy, and a form of silent resistance. Each woven strand carries a story of endurance, faith, and community. 

The Beginning of the Kaseve Project

When Studio Ng'aari Foundation (S.N.F) visited the Kaseve community, one thing stood out: the women's unmatched weaving talent and their quiet determination to improve their families' lives. From that encounter, the Kaseve Project was born under SNF's Sokorembo Program, which focuses on creativity as a tool for empowerment.

The idea was simple yet powerful: empower through art.

Fifteen widows came together to form a weaving group. Their first batch of handcrafted baskets spoke volumes, elegance, detail, and deep cultural significance. Recognizing their effort, SNF stepped in to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. 

Through the Studio Ng'aari Art Center Gallery, SNF purchases the baskets directly from the women at fair prices, adds finishing touches, and prepares them for sale locally and internationally. This creates a cycle of income and dignity, ensuring every sale supports a home and strengthens a dream.

Beyond the Basket — The Vision for Water

But behind every beautiful basket is a deeper challenge: the struggle for water. Each day, the women of Kaseve walk long, exhausting distances to fetch water for their families. These journeys, done mostly by women, expose them to physical strain, insecurity, and time away from other productive work. Through the Kaseve Project, SNF hopes to address this critical need by drilling a borehole that will bring clean water closer to the community. Access to water will not only ease daily hardships, but will also support small-scale farming and improve nutrition, hygiene, and food security. 

The basket weaving initiative is the first step toward this greater dream, using art as a means to achieve access to water, growth, and renewal.   

A Cycle of Empowerment.

The Kaseve Project represents what SNF stands for: creativity with purpose. Every basket sold moves the community closer to self-reliance. Every donation or purchase becomes a drop of hope in the larger dream of bringing clean water to Kaseve.

Through this initiative, Studio Ng'aari Foundation is weaving together more than baskets; it's weaving a future where women's creativity fuels sustainable change.

? Join Us in Weaving Change

You can be part of this story. Every contribution, purchase, or partnership helps us take one more step toward clean water and creative empowerment for the women of Kaseve.

Studio Ng'aari Foundation - Where Creativity Changes Lives.