Women’s Program
The women in our quilting program have always been paid a fair-trade wage for their work. In addition, since 2018, QFE has also contributed an equal amount into their income-generating support group. Support group funds are then used to give women non-refundable cash transfers to generate their own income, pay for national health insurance for every woman and her family, and to provide loans for emergencies.
QFE has adopted evidence-based best practices for promoting quilters’ economic independence, including: a) a monthly income for paying for their daily needs; b) non-refundable cash transfers to invest in income-generating activities; c) health insurance for their household; d) financial training and coaching; and 3) on-going mentoring. Mentoring is provided by Field Supervisor, John, who visits women at their homes.
During the COVID-19 epidemic when it was not safe for women to travel to pick up sewing supplies and get paid, we gave each woman a monthly stipend. It was primarily used to buy food as the 10 women were feeding up to 70 people. The small businesses they had started, such as selling vegetables, chickens, and charcoal, were struggling. To compensate for their lost income, women were taught how to make and sell soap
Several of the BOMA Graduation Model’s culturally relevant outcome measures are used to evaluate our impact. The responses have been positive, even during COVID-19: a) all household members had two meals a day in the past week; b) no child went to bed without an evening meal; c) women can name two sources of income; and d) all women are members of a savings group. Additionally, all school-age children were in school when open.
Monthly support group meetings resumed in 2021 and all the women in the first support group “graduated” in April 2022 able to financially support themselves and their families. Their pride is evident in the graduation photo. All are now QFE ambassadors, tasked with community outreach to identify women in need of fistula surgery. A second support group is being formed and will have all the same opportunities as the first group.
Girl’s Program
We have successfully been housing and empowering girls who have experienced gender-based violence since 2019. As a result, we have witnessed how safe housing, health care, education, and support has transformed their lives. Girls entered our program malnourished, unhealthy, with little or no formal education. Now, all are healthy and performing at the top of their classes. Their traumas, which include sexual assault, physical beatings, emotional neglect, exposure to pornography, and multiple types of sexual exploitation, are being addressed by an experienced child psychologist who is helping girls process their experiences and heal.
USA donors contribute to their daily upkeep and school fees at a private day school or boarding school. Donors can also contribute to an emergency fund for other expenses, such as medical care and clothing. All girls live in the Kenya QFE compound under the supervision of our Program Director, Norah Otondo. QFE grants funds for maintaining the compound and the salaries of Norah, their house matron, tutor, and laundress.
