Commentaries
Success from Soapstone
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 01 July 2008 18:38
--Patrick Aching'a, Carver, Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers
Located in an agriculturally fertile region of Kenya, Kisii has high rates of HIV/AIDS, which has driven life expectancy from 57 to 37 years old. As a result, one out of six children under age 5 is an orphan. Unemployment rates are also extremely high. Yet the social cohesion and identity of western Kenyans remains optimistic, with the Nyabigena Carvers Cooperative standing out as a powerful success story.
Kenyan soapstone, or "kisii," is unique to the Tabaka Hills of Western Kenya. A soft and easily worked stone, it comes in a variety of colors ranging from cream and pink to black. The 150 member Nyabigena Carvers Cooperative skillfully carve soapstone items, contributing the proceeds to myriad communal services for their small village of Nyamarambe, just outside of Kisii.
Success from Soapstone
One of the most recent sources of great pride for the Nyabigena Carvers Cooperative is the new elementary school in Tabaka, which opened in January 2007. The school currently educates 71 students, and is largely funded by the sales of soapstone crafts.
The group has also sponsored several other successful programs including support for women's literacy, HIV/AIDS awareness and consultation for school dropouts. Additionally, they have recently received a grant to dig two wells that will help provide clean water and save time.
Patrick Aching'a, a Nyabigena soapstone carver and father of five, says, "I am very happy for the orders which I get, especially from SERRV International, which has enabled me to improve the living standards of my family. I hope if our organization will be receiving orders, my life and the lives of my children will change even more and more for the better."
