OUR CURRENT PROJECTS

Mama Biashara has, to date, micro financed and supported around 50 small businesses for HIV+ women, alone with families to support. Just £25 will start a business selling vegetables or second hand clothes, £30 will set up a charcoal seller or a chappati maker. Having their own business transforms the lives of these women – it makes them independent, able to feed and house their families. And, more than that, the psychological and emotional lift it gives them is as good as medicine!

Julius and the Kabiria Group

Name: 
Jikomboe Upesa

Jikomboe Upesi is a group of discordant couples (where one partner is positive and one is negative) living in the Kabiria / Kawangware slums of Nairobi.   The group was formed by Julius Mukangala, an amazing and dedicated man who first contacted Mama Biashara in 2008, after his home and butchery business were destroyed in the post-election violence.   Despite frequent illness and struggles to keep his own family fed and clothed, Julius started this group and approached Mama B around a year ago.

MAMA BIASHARA KAMBA

A rural project in the Kamba region. We are going to build wooden looms and the locals (who already have the skills) will weave traditional Kikoys.

Then we need to find transport for the Kikoys from the Kamba village to Nairobi each month.

MAMA BIASHARA ISIOLO

Here Mama Biashara is joining forces with a pilot project for PeePoo Bags – bags used as mobile toilets which then transform human waste into high grade fertiliser in three days, after which the bags themselves degrade to fertiliser in three weeks. We have been given 1000 of the bags for a pilot project on the basis that I will record the project on camera.

We will be working in Isiolo with a Street Kids project.

SAMBURU

In the Porro district of Samburu the nearest school is too far away to reach. A small education programme exists there, set up by a local man.

MAMA BIASHARA JUJA

Name: 
Mamas : Faith and Lucy - Papas : John and Peter

Outside Nairobi Mama B has dug a well on a farm which has been dying due to lack of water. There are 4 generations of the same family living there. Water was found at 50’ and a pump installed. The well will provide water for the foreseeable future. Until now, the nearest water was several kilometres away.

By way of ‘interest’ on the well, the farmer will be supplying water to the local community. Currently they pay 5ksh for 20 litres plus 15ksh for transport. With the well they will pay 1ksh for 20 litres. And if they are ill then they have water free.

KARIOBANGI

Name: 
Head Mama : Jedidah

In a slum on the other side of Nairobi, Mama B was doing workshops within the FUDAKA project (see below) with a group of sex workers. It became apparent that the priority for these women was finding a way to get out of the sex industry, while still being able to feed and house their children. After some time researching possibilities, we have begun Mama Biashara Kariobangi.

NGANDO

Name: 
Mama : Janet

Jaja Fish is both a fish business and the heart of Mama Biashara in Ngando – one of the slums in the Dagoiretti district. Janet Akoth and Janet Ogindo (hence JaJa) have been with Mama B since the very beginning. Both Janets are HIV+ and have worked tirelessly in their community supporting, educating, fighting stigma. Janet Ogindo has just discovered that her 11 year old son Michael is also positive.

SATELLITE

Name: 
Papa : Shadrack

Mama B has taken on board a young man who makes fresh juices and smoothies in his shack in Satellite. With the injection of a commercial juicer and blender, plus an introduction to a couple of big new customers, Shadrack has moved his business to the next level. After a one year ‘holiday’ he will pay back (without interest) the cost of the hardware. Meanwhile he will be providing, free of charge, two litres of his remarkable smoothie each day to nominated HIV/AIDS support groups who have members bedridden and unable to eat solids.

WAITHAKE (through DECEIP)

Name: 
Mamas : Esther and Jane

A series of Business Workshops and MicroFinance Market Days has supported dozens of other small businesses and craftsmen, improving their marketing skills, augmenting their sales, introducing them to new customers and provided advice on any questions they have.

NGONG ROAD

Mama B has provided another small AIDS Charity (ALPHAO) with a popcorn making machine, giving them an income of 5,000ksh every week with which to help run their orphan support group.