Every year, Elimu Girls Founder, Cindy Rodriguez, visits Kenya for a few days to reconnect with our sewing students and catch up with the Kenyan team running operations.
This year, she was accompanied by two new board members, Kristi and Wendy for a week full of adventure and impact. Wendy is an entrepreneur who also leads workshops and retreats that empower women to be themselves and to see themselves in new and inspiring ways. Kristi believes that creativity is freedom and describes herself as a creativity catalyst.
During their visit, we put on our thinking caps and brainstormed about making our sewing project sustainable. With Kristi’s guidance, magic happened in our Artisan Maker Space. Block printing and embroidery classes became a hit, giving our students and alumni new skills to boost their sewing expertise and earnings.
But it wasn’t all work and no play. The trio dived into daily life at the sewing college, sewing and preparing meals with them, and experiencing the joy and spirit of the girls through their local songs and dances. Despite some rain, we danced under the magical night sky to the traditional rhythms of the Giriama tribal songs and dances that make the local Coastal culture vibrant.
A major highlight was the Elimu fashion show and fundraising dinner. Cindy, Wendy, and Kristi hit the runway alongside Elimu founder, Nina Chung. With hands and hearts in the air, they proudly showcased beautiful hand-sewn garments designed by our talented sewing alumni, Janet. It was a night etched in our memories, filled with joy, creativity, and the spirit of community.
Elimu continues to flourish in her work with rural girls, mostly because of the support we receive from women who choose to share their magic through skills, funding, mentorship and friendship.