Chui Mamas

 

All photos courtesy and credit: Ambrose Letoluai

Some time ago now, Ambrose and Modester Ellie set up a group for women in the Samburu community called Chui Mamas – ‘chui’ being the Swahili name for leopards, and indicative of the tenacity of these women. The group was set up to empower women and girls and was particularly aimed at those who were less privileged – widows, those with disabilities, and single mothers. By the end of 2019 there were already sixty members in the group.

At first Chui Mamas were connected with conservation through the production and sale of beaded ornaments and jewellery which could be sold to visitors at the conservancies, but typically, Ambrose did not let it stop there. During his trip to the United States of America, he not only marketed their products, but modelled them too!

Soon the group were playing host to guest speakers covering issues such as health, sexual health, and FGM, as well as new ways to improve their livelihoods. Contributors like Madhvi Dalal from the organisation PadMad donated a large quantity of sanitary towels which enabled women, particularly schoolgirls, to get on with their lives when they were menstruating rather than hiding away in shame.

In early 2020 the group learn to use sewing machines that they had been given, and this meant that they could not only produce their own sanitary pads but later, when the Covid Pandemic broke out, they could make and sell masks. Similarly, they began to make and sell soap, to keep bees and sell their honey.

The pandemic had a major impact on the community in general and people were thrown back onto their livestock as their only source of income. Thankfully, some generous people made donations towards basic foods, and Ambrose was able to identify those in the community in the direst situations, including one man who was in desperate need of a wheelchair; once again funds were arranged for the provision of a really practical version.

Meanwhile the Chui Mamas did not give up ,and played a major role in the building of a new dam; back-breaking work which was finally rewarded on 25^th May, 2020 when one of the Chui Mamas placed her hands on the pump for the first time and drew the first water.

Without donations from individuals and organisations all over the world, none of this would have been possible, but the group, just like Ambrose, puts in a lot of hard work itself and always makes the best use of its resources.