Why Artisans with HIV/AIDS ?

On my tip to Kenya, I visited Africa’s second largest slum, Kibera, home to about a million people.  I met with women who were living with HIV/AIDS and who received their medical care from an NGO clinic in the slum.  The women were eager to work and yet did not even have enough money for the bus fare required to take them to a job site.  Nor could they afford child-care for their children or have money to buy lunch out. 

It was at this moment that I realized just how vicious the cycle of poverty really is.  I quickly concluded that I needed to set up a co-op in close proximity to the slums to provide the most needy the opportunity of achieving an economic livelihood. 

It’s widely known that HIV/AIDS and poverty are closely intertwined; it is therefore important to develop strategies that tackle both in order to achieve real success.

Our Goals

Establish a co-op within an underserved community in which we train impoverished women to develop handicraft skills so that they may produce goods marketable goods and gain an economic livelihood.

·         Artisan Identification

Identify talented artisans who demonstrate need and commitment to work.

·         Training and Design Assistance

Provide training in handicraft skills to artisans to achieve the quality of workmanship that Global Girls requires.

·         Market Connection

Promote the artisans handicrafts in the US and international markets.