Basket weaving has helped me in many ways!

Eda Maghanga

More than 1000 basket weavers live near Mount Kasigau, in different settlements and villages. A cloud descends most evenings on top of the Kasigau, like a blanket. The forest on top captures the cloud’s moisture, the source of water of all people in the villages around the mountain. The source of life. The farmers near the mountain benefit from the rain and moisture that the mountain attracts, in comparison with the vast flat areas in between the hills and mountains that look more like a scrubby desert for most of the year. At times when the dry season lasts too long, the water sources run dry and Kasigau becomes a place of struggle.
Eda is 49 years old and started weaving baskets in 2016. In 2018 she had a difficult time when her husband got terminally ill and passed away. Eda is known to be social, outgoing and courageous, characteristics that help her in her role as the chairlady of Kuwuka Na Kubonya basket weaving group. Additionally, Edda owns a small business, with her son, with two boda boda (motorbikes) and a second-hand pick-up which we rent out or offer taxi services with.She managed to set it up through the small loans she took. The income from the basket weaving together with the income from the small business help her repay the loans.

As a real entrepreneur, she plans to enlarge her shop in the future and wants to add some rooms to rent and one room for her son. Being determined and hard-working – also when weaving baskets – will make her dreams come true, she is certain of. “Basket weaving has helped me in many ways. I can now pay my small loans and eat well. My mum taught me how to weave baskets and now I am doing it in memory of her. I thank God for Hadithi Crafts as they do amazing work in buying our baskets. I don’t know who could buy so many of our baskets if it were not for Hadithi.’’ Eda is always happy, carries a big smile and an accommodative heart that warms all members. To many, she is like a mother. For all, she is a woman of the people.
In Peru the number of girls under ten forced to become mothers tripled in 2020