Who made my basket?

our Hadithi TEAM

To make things happen, a team of dedicated women work fulltime in our Head Quarters. We call ourselves the Hadithi team.

We present:

Aggy Mulewa

Aggy joined the Hadithi team in august 2017. She started as our office coordinator. She is now the driving force of our community team, training women groups on various subjects and streamlining all practical weave orders.

“My experience in Hadithi helps me because I learn so many things as I work with my colleagues and the women groups. It makes me happy when we see women in the community being able to withstand the challenges they face in their homes.”

Angelina Mtini

Angelina started out with Hadithi to conduct the questionaires for the study we conducted in 2021. When Hadithi Crafts needed to enforce the community team, we knew we could rely on her! Angelina guides all the fineweave sisal basket weavers and shows such energy and dedication. She comes from a community of basket weavers herself.

“I really felt the importance of basketweaving when I interviewed all the weavers with the survey. Now being a full-time part of Hadithi team I’m so happy to follow this passion and be able to help the weavers to improve their livelihood, and also for my own family."

Elisabeth Mwanjewe

Elisabeth joined us in 2022 as sales team assistant. She is now part of the community team, where her passion and skills in teaching are making her shine. She is training women groups on various subjects and streamlining all beadwork orders.

‘‘My name is Elizabeth Mwanjewe, I’m a Taita lady from Chawia where fineweave baskets are made. I’m married with two school going girls. I have been a member of Bidii women group basket weaver in Maungu for one year where I learnt the skills of basket weaving. I am trained at a teacher, and was working in a local school but my pay did not come regularly. I started assisting the Hadithi team at their headquarter, doing the bundling and splitting sisal material. Then I started assisting in stacking and packaging baskets for a few months. The CBO was growing and needed help, and they recognised my efforts and offered me a fulltime contract. I thank hadithi crafts CBO for being supportive to me and the community at large. Through my job I am able to cater for my kids and assist my younger siblings.”

Doroth Mbalambala

Doroth joined our team in March 2019. She is the daughter of Leah Mbalambala, a basket weaver. She is in charge of selection and packing for orders. By 2023 she is leading our sales team.

“I am so happy with my full time job. Now I can provide for my 2 year old son. I know Basket Quality and I know the women, as my mum is one of them. I want to start a study for a diploma in community development.”

Hannah MAchocho

Machocho supports the sales team at the head quarters.

“ My mother is a basket weaver from Kasigau Makwasinyi Mwagubenyi group . I’m glad that through my job she can get something from me as an appreciation from daughter. I joined Hadithi in 2021. This job makes a difference to my life. I live in Maungu and I have three children aged 17, 12 and 7. Through Hadithi, I am able to pay school fees for my children, we have food to eat and school uniforms.

Caroline Nyamu

Caroline came on board as our production coordinator in November of 2023, taking over from Rachael Wanja. Her experience includes crafts, administration and customer service.

'“I am passionate about crafts and women empowerment. It also gives me a personal reward. I am keen to apply my talent and my knowledge I have gathered in various jobs and positions I have held, to take Hadithi Crafts forward. Maungu is a small place but it’s a welcome change from the huge busy city of Nairobi.”

Jacinta Mutisya

Jacinta is an accounting professional with over 4 years experience of delivering financial services in local organizations. She has the responsibility of managing finances and bookkeeping in Hadithi Crafts.

"I have always had a passion for working with organizations that make a difference in the lives of people especially the less privileged in the society. I am glad to have joined Hadithi Crafts and add my two cents to an organization concerned with empowering and making positive impact to the rural women in Taita Taveta.”

Angela MBUri

“Being part of Hadithi Crafts Support CBO is being a part of growing families and building futures for children. It is fulfilling to support work that brings out positive impact and growth to all who are part of it.”

Angela has joined our team in November 2023 to manage the wholesale accounts of Hadithi customers so we can keep all our customers well supplied and happy! After welcoming her fourth child into the world in June, she is the first port of call again for our wholesale customers. Welcome on Angela@hadithicrafts.com.

LORE DEFRANCQ

Lore comes from Belgium and travelled to Kenya for the first time in 2009. Two years later, she followed her heart and moved to Maungu, along the Mombasa highway in south-eastern Kenya. Lore has been voted trustee of the Hadithi Crafts Support CBO, to nurture and advise the CBO.

“I’m a biologist, so I thought I would get involved in research projects, but life showed something else was out here in Kenya for me. A load of beautiful handicrafts made by ladies desperate for an income, but without a market to sell their products. I wanted to see these ladies earning an income from their handicrafts, and see how this business can contribute to women empowerment and wildlife conservation.” Lore@hadithicrafts.com