Hear directly from our team members and community partners at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project on how climate change is effecting them.
These recordings were done as part of RECLAIM THE CLIMATE NARRATIVE CAMPAIGN
My name is Kassim Mghandi working with the Wildlife Works EPZ as a production clerk where my responsibility are recording and filing of the clothes that we made. The climates effects that are visible in my area are global warming and lack of rainfall that leads to food insecurity and scarcity of domestic water supply. The work thatI do contributes indirectly to conservation because we normally use organic cotton fabrics that are environmentally friendly and they don't use any chemicals that are harmful to the environment. I believe that the things that connect us with our consumers is the unique part of environment conservation and also we make unique brands and the other thing that we are very conscious with is quality brands. In my life conservation is like a tradition to me especially planting trees and also I act as ambassador of the environment in the community and working with Wildlife Works is a passion driven so i have a passion and I'm happy working with the organization. Thank you
My name is Clara Wasai and I work for Wildlife Works, EPZ section as a Seamstress as well as a Supervisor.
I am witnessing the drastic effects of climate change in my area. For instance, I have experienced drought which has led to scarcity of everything. There has been a lack of rainfall and farmers can no longer till crops like they used to. Drought has also had a huge negative effect on wildlife because they depend on rainfall for their survival. These effects have also had a huge toll on the economy leading to the high cost of living.
My personal work at Wildlife Works helps contribute to the business mission which is job creation. Thanks to my job, I can take care of my daily needs.
What connects me and the consumers of the products we make is our unique creativity. Our way of working is unique, as we use 100% cotton in making products because we don’t use chemicals which contribute to destroying the environment. The materials we use are organic and we limit the use of chemicals. Our customers love our clothes because they are comfortable, breathable and of pure quality.
Personally, I would love people to know that I love my job because apart from taking care of my daily needs, it is my passion. My job also helps me expand my creativity and many are impressed by my work. I would also urge our clients and customers to love our job, appreciate it and even support us by buying the items we’ve made. The work we do at the eco-factory is loved by people because our products are unique, and the prices are fair. I would urge those outside impressed by our work to continue supporting us in this business.
My name is Rehema Makane. I come from Makina in a village called Oldonyo. I am the Chairlady of Nasirian women group which deals with making bracelets and ornamentals. I am also married and a mother of two children.
I have seen changes in seasonal weather patterns because it is incredibly hot with the lack of rain and water. As the Maasai community, our tradition is rearing cattle, and the lack of water has made it impossible because there is hardly any pasture. Our children are also forced to stay at home because of the blazing sun.
Previously, Maasai women were not allowed to work or look for food. We were also not allowed to educate our children but thanks to these hard times, Maasai women are now the bread winners and also educating and taking care of their children.
We would feel secure about our children’s future if we had a borehole dug in our community because our main challenge is water. This will enable us to have drinking water for ourselves, our cattle as well as turn it into an economic activity to start planting crops and selling them. We would also feel secure if we had a market center where we can sell our beaded jewelry. This will improve our lives because if someone wanted to buy our products, they would come straight to the center.
Previously, we didn’t have any source of income because we were jobless. At the moment our situation has changed and when we make the bracelets, the money from it can be used to pay school fees for our children.
I am the breadwinner and I financially support 6 family members. They consist of my 2 children, 3 in-laws, a grandmother and my husband.
My name is Sinyati Kiringoli, I come from Miasenyi area and am the Chairlady of Nalebo site group which is in charge of making beaded jewelry. I am married and a mother to 8 children.
I have seen a lot of changes in seasonal weather patterns and the most evident is the rise in temperatures. Our livestock have been affected the most because there is no pasture and water. Previously, we traditionally relied heavily on cows as the source of food for our children as well as income and the change in weather patterns has made it impossible to rear livestock or even sell them.
Previously, Maasai women were traditionally not allowed to go to work, and we were confined to our homesteads. The situation has now changed, and we can now look for work or perform menial jobs and then come back home with food to feed the family. Nowadays our children don’t go without food because we have introduced ourselves to different income generating activities.
What we need to thrive is have a borehole dug which will provide water for us and our livestock. This will also give us an opportunity to venture into farming and sell our crops as we spend a lot of time going to look for water. A source of water will address this problem because we wouldn’t have to suffer looking for this precious commodity. Also, as the Maasai community, we would love for our children to be empowered with education to prevent most of our young girls from getting married at a very young age. Most women are against it and pushing for our girls to be educated but the men are against this idea. We believe that a good education will help improve our lives.
The impact of making bracelets with Hadithi is huge because we are able to meet our daily needs. Our children are no longer struggling and can go to school. Previously, we were making the bracelets for our own use, but now we can make and sell them.
In my family the people depending on me are my 8 children, my husband, and my 2 nephews who are orphaned.
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