Musul Naramatisho

Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group

Text provided by Mary Kesier, Secretary, Musul Naramatisho Women's Group. 1/12/2005

Vision

Working together so as to have a self-reliant society or people

Mission

Sharing knowledge, empowering women to know their rights

Goal

To sustainably exploit all available traditional, cultural and natural resources

Introduction

Musul Naramatisho Women's Group was formed as a women's project to try and assist local women in Musul to uplift their living standard. The group was first started as Piriwua women's group and then changed its name to Musul Naramatisho Women's Group to cover the picture of its vision, mission and goal ("naramatisho" is maasai, meaning "the one who cares"). The group was registered with the Ministry of Gender, Sport, Cultural and Social Services of Kenya on 7/7/2005 and since then the group of 16 dedicated members has been running its activities well.

Background

The group is situated at Musul village or Musul Sublocation of Ilpolei Location, Mukogodo Division in the Laikipia District of the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.

Main Activities

Bead work

Livestock

FGM & HIV/AIDS awareness

Objectives

1) To have a Cultural Manyatta to sell the group's jewellery and have a tourist attraction.

2) To provide a market for local jewellery

3) To sensitise and mobilise the community on prevention of HIV and AIDS through workshops and meetings

To ensure each child is enrolled in school and educate girl child to understand the effects of FGM.

To prevent livestock disease in order to have quality and improve livestock products.

Achievements

Group structure - How the group is formed and its formation, starting from the Chairlady to all members

Registration and monthly contributions - to be a member you have to register yourself with 500 Kenyan Shillings and a monthly contribution of 100 Kenyan Shillings, which is good and which has enabled us to run some of our activities e.g. emails and buying beads, etc.

Regular meetings - the group has arranged to meet twice each month and this has been done.

By-laws - the group by-laws have been followed accordingly

Contacted Propoortourism Development Centre in Nairobi - now developing a catalogue for the sale of jewellery.

Problems facing the group

Market for our products

Capital to start a big business

Training of our members

Lack of willing donors

No office

Poor proposal writing

Illiteracy

Employed staff to run the affairs of the group

An access to emails, transportation and other problems pertaining to this

Need for a Cultural Manyatta/curio shop

Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group are also working closely with MBEKEC (Mukogodo Beekeepers & Environmental Group) to overcome local community needs & challenges.