Listening, Learning, and Empowering Women

I’ve given two sermons on behalf of PFP this last month, and I used Acts 9:36-42, the scripture about Tabitha, the woman Peter raised from the dead. Tabitha is a disciple and clearly, an important community leader. The Kenyan women read this story from Acts with great attention – Tabitha is a woman who cares for those in need, and she is a seamstress of notable talent – they hold her up as a role model that is tangible to them.

Tabitha purposefully sought out the poor and widows (the powerless) and actively looked to see how she could help meet their needs. In the first century, when women’s activities generally centered on daily survival for themselves and their families, Tabitha engaged the needs of her community. Her lifestyle showed that love is an active verb intent on doing good for others. She is introduced to us in the text with both her Aramaic and Greek names, perhaps to show that she was following the call of Jesus and ministering to both Jewish and Hellenistic communities.

I come back from every place we have lived in Africa and tell American Christians about the strong faith I have witnessed there, the deep sense of community and care I have been blessed with, and the profound generosity and hospitality I have experienced. North Americans have a lot we can learn from Africans. We are broken in ways we can barely see. My two children are both part of the LGBTQ community, and I had to attend a workshop last week on how to advocate for their rights so that I can do what every mother does – try to protect her children. We think we are wealthy, which we are in water, and things, but we are poor in community and even faith. This is manifest in the high levels of anxiety we experience, from our “first world problems” to the on-going racism and violence around us, such as yesterday’s school shooting.

Honestly, I struggled to write sermons about women’s empowerment. Last weekend, a white supremacist live streamed himself going into a black supermarket and killing 10 people in cold blood. Why? I learned about this thing called “replacement theory”, and an expert on NPR reported that while many people share this fear, only a few will take action, and it is because he felt called to do it to save others, a savior-complex.

And this took me to the book we are reading in preparation for our upcoming Work Team trip to Kenya, which I believe you have all read, “When Helping Hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor..and yourself.” It is certainly possible to help in a way that hurts, and the biggest way is to come in with our big white “God-complex,” throw money around and think we need to save people, instead of listening, empowering, sharing privilege, and addressing brokenness in both systems and individuals. I’m glad that Path From Poverty is one of those organizations that try to do development differently, but we need to realize we have not “arrived.” That we still need to be honest about racism and inequities here at home, that microaggressions happen, and we must be willing to hear from people of color how we are hurting them, and provide them space to be honest.

It's also an on-going process to be humble; and every Work Team, actually, every email, we remind ourselves that we are servants to our women leaders. That they are in this mess partly because white colonialism messed up their land and their systems, and now their climate. That our reading of the Bible on what we should do was wrong, and then was wrong again, and that really, this goes back to the very beginning. Back to the garden of Eden and eating an apple that the serpent told us will make us be like God.

This is our fall. It’s not a long-ago origin myth; it’s our sin that needs repeated repentance. The desire to be like God is a current temptation that leads to death, even today.

So we have responsibility for water equity on the other side of the world. Our Christian sisters call out to us for help, and we act. We have to keep our god-complexes and paternalism in check, make sure we are listening and learning, empowering and not patching. Path From Poverty’s mission is to transform lives by partnering with women’s groups, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and live into their God-given potential. The book on When Helping Hurts, defines poverty as the “absence of Shalom in all its meanings,” and poverty alleviation is about reconciling people’s relationships, with God, self, each other, and the land.

Twenty years ago, we were in Kenya doing lots of things – building a school, matching livestock. Then the women there said that if they simply had access to clean, safe water, they could take care of the rest of what their communities needed, on their own terms, and wouldn’t need our big interventions. Getting water is exhausting and depressing – can you imagine spending 5-7 hours a day collecting water? We didn’t have reliable water during our three years in Chad – it is time consuming and stressful to buy water, collect it in the bathtub, boil it, deal with diarrhea – and that’s having the resources to buy it! So that’s why we call this a mission in water equity – helping these women access water is simply leveling that illusive ‘playing field’ so that they can do what we all want to do – take care of our families and communities.

Our Kenyan leaders in PFP would now keep going without us in the US, if we disappeared tomorrow, and in fact, they raise money for more tanks than we can match. They are being Tabitha, and I do believe their communities would insist to the male disciples that they absolutely must be brought back to life, for the good of so many. May we be so inspired.

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Micro-enterprises Help Break the Cycle of Poverty

By Laura Milleville • December 19, 2024

Microenterprises are an important tool in the fight against poverty, particularly for women in rural Kenya. These small-scale businesses, often started with minimal capital, provide a sustainable pathway out of poverty by offering economic independence and social empowerment. Each Path From Poverty women's group chooses which micro-enterprises make sense for their group based on their location, resources available, and skills they can learn or share. Here are three of the main income generating projects in the Ukambani region: Farming: Around 80% of Kenya's agricultural workforce is made up of women, who play a pivotal role in the country's agricultural production. Women in Path From Poverty are encouraged to have a shamba, or kitchen garden. This provides fresh food for their families and sometimes a surplus that can be sold. In order to conserve water, the women re-use what they can to water their gardens. For example, they will wash their dishes and then pour the dish water onto their plants. Women also do casual labor at neighboring farms - planting seeds, spreading manure, and harvesting crops. Basket Weaving: The Ukambani region is known for its baskets. Women weave baskets from sisal, baobab, yarn, and plastic bags. When women harvest sisal, they must strip the plant by hand to get the fibers for weaving. The sap of the sisal plant can cause skin irritation but the women endure this because weaving baskets and ropes is a vital way they earn income. Making Ballast: Breaking rocks into ballast, or gravel, for construction is back-breaking work. For many women in dire poverty, it’s one of the only accessible income generating projects, as it requires no capital. Women collect rocks, then break them into smaller rocks using a hammer or a rock. Even collecting the rocks can be dangerous, as venomous snakes can be hiding in the rocks. When the women smash the stones, they risk eye injuries from flying rock shards and hand injuries.

Cluster Update: Changing Seasons

By Laura Milleville • December 11, 2024

Changing seasons

Christine's Celebration Story

By Laura Milleville • December 11, 2024

"Our lives will change."

Cluster Update - New Income Generating Projects

By Laura Milleville • August 30, 2024

Kibwezi Group members in Kibwezi are working on making bricks, planting tree nurseries, and beekeeping. It is hard to succeed at these activities without adequate water. The water sources are far away, and Beatrice reports that the women are often confronted by wild and domestic animals like elephants. Kilome This month, the training was on a type of poultry called Uzima or Sasso chickens. They discussed the advantages of this breed, the costs, and how to prepare for keeping them. Susan says, “We had a wonderful time, and most members were very interested some immediately ordered for chicks.” Kisau Groups in Kisau are doing well and saving to purchase multiple tanks. They trained on vegetable farming and beekeeping. They visited a member with a successful farm to learn about tree nurseries. Older groups are mentoring newer members. Kola Groups are working on vegetable and tree nurseries and also doing table banking and merry-go-round banking. The cluster trained on body fitness such as walking and jogging. Annah asks for your support and well wishes so “that every woman conquers every challenge.” Malili A Regina says that the cluster is struggling with climate change, and the weather has been unseasonably cold. Aka ma Uiini Women’s Group made sweaters and sold them. Many group members and their families are suffering from illness and hunger. Malili B Group leaders are training on record keeping and how to encourage group participation. Groups are selling ballast for construction, making sisal ropes, and doing casual labor at neighboring farms. Makueni Women in Makueni are struggling due to the economic situation in Kenya and drought. The leaders are training their groups on how to plant drought resistant crops and starting income generating activities that require less water. Several groups received training on using wonderbags and fireless cookers to save fuel and be more time efficient. Mbooni Agnes’s leadership continues to help groups be creative with their income generating activities. Kwiiyumya Women’s Group is “selling avocados like hot cakes. They all carry buckets full of avocado and sell alongside the roads.” Other groups are making school bags for children, harvesting passion fruit and tree tomatoes, and selling firewood and charcoal to help people heat their homes during this cold season. Agnes started this month’s cluster training with a question: What makes some groups do better than others?” Her answer: spiritual leaders and members, commitment, team work, no gossip, being compassionate, good training before formation, and being transparent and accountable! Tulimani This month, the cluster received training on drug abuse among the youth so that they are able to speak to their children and hopefully prevent drug use. Women are anxiously waiting for the protests in Kenya to cease. The protests are disrupting markets and making it difficult for the group members to sell their ballast and other goods. Yandue This new cluster still faces challenges as many members are not educated and are learning to overcome selfishness and meet group expectations. Agnes notes that these are common challenges in new groups and trusts the women will overcome them. Groups have been successful in selling food items including porridge and ice cream. One group is collecting sand from a riverbed to sell and another group has pounded rocks into gravel and sold it for construction projects in Nairobi.

Cluster Update: Ongoing Flood Recovery Efforts

By Laura Milleville • July 11, 2024

The flooding in Kenya has caused many challenges, but groups are coming together to support members who are struggling. Kibwezi The women in Kibwezi have been training on how to work “like bees in their gardens,” and their hard work is paying off. Women with tanks share water with the members who are still working toward their first tank. Kilome Many of the women in Kilome do casual labor, but there are few opportunities available now due to the economy. The groups are still pressing ahead, determined to purchase at least one tank. Kwambeu Women’s Group continues to support Lydia, a disabled woman who has been part of the group for several years. Even though she is unable to work and contribute to the group savings, the women offer her support, bring her food and supplies, and keep her company . Kisau Groups are training on how to maintain kitchen gardens, how to manage groups, and how to have sustainable income generating activities. Members who have graduated and have successful farms are sharing their techniques. Kola Under Annah’s leadership, groups are determined to do well and are improving. The cluster trained on virtues such as love and unity as they support each other. Women visited members who have been sick, and they successfully raised enough money to help one member with her hospital bills. Makueni Despite challenges caused by the flooding, the groups in Makueni continue to do well with their income generating projects, including tree nurseries and merry-go-round savings. Twaweza and Aka Oi Women’s Group collaborated with an organization and received sewing machines. They are currently working on an order of 10,000 menstrual pads. Malili A Groups are knitting sweaters, selling liquid soap, and braiding ropes. It has been hard for the groups to sell their products due to the poor economy and transportation challenges caused by the floods. Most members’ chickens were carried away by floodwaters, and the women are struggling to find food. Some children have had to stay home from school because school fees are out of reach. Malili B Groups are crushing ballast and braising sisal ropes, but even motorbikes have been unable to reach the area because roads are washed out. They are waiting for roads to be repaired. One group has been able to go door-to-door reselling fruits and vegetables with some success. Mbooni Group members are working hard to support each other during these trying times. Agnes trained members on how to maintain their gardens during heavy rains. Neema Women’s Group is making bricks so they can build homes for members who lost theirs during the floods. Tulimani Monicah reports that groups are unstable, and women have not been able to make their contributions towards their targets. The torrential rains caused significant damage to crops and roads. “The villages are now repairing slowly by slowly.” Yandue Members of this new cluster are finding success with selling porridge, making jewelry, and constructing beehives. One group received training from the government on painting houses. Mbooni and Yandue clusters met together. Many members are sick, and some are without shelter after floods destroyed their homes. “During our gathering, I encouraged them to be strong when days are dark and also be brave when life gets tough.”

Joyce's Celebration Story

By Laura Milleville • July 10, 2024

“My dream has come true.”

Cluster Update: Flooding in Kenya

By Laura Milleville • June 3, 2024

Monicah (Tulimani) – Group reports this month are full of the bad news from the floods – roads and markets closed because of heavy rain, cereal harvest destroyed by rain and worms, and even “poor attendance at meetings because many members cross rivers.” Harvest is anticipated to be poor, too. Sue (Makueni) – A new group, “Petal Sisters,” has started in Makueni, and they are already starting their savings while they are being trained. Rains and flooding really disturb them, however, so that their challenges this month were “sickness and death among members, floods, mud slides and most homes swept away by water and strong winds.” Their training was on leadership and the responsibilities of their group leaders. Agnes (Yandue) – Agnes describes her new cluster thus: “Most of the women are not educated, others don’t go to church, many girls are drop-outs from school.” She asks for prayer that these circumstances would change. They were highly motivated by meeting women from all over PFP at the Work Team marketplace, so she is hopefully to see change. Susan (Kilome) – “Great and very devastating is the floods caused by heavy downpour of rain. Banks overflowed, dams, landslides, farms washed away, and others got leached, falling of houses, dropping of toilets, etc.” Beatrice (Kibwezi) – Beatrice also talks about devastation in her area, and how in their meetings they discuss how to help members’ families when life is lost. They continue to share as they are able, however, Nyota Ndongo women’s group continues to struggle. Agnes (Mbooni) – This area has really struggled with flooding and mudslides because it is hilly. Sue (Kisau) – This cluster is doing well, and with so many groups graduating but wanting to stay involved, so this last months’ strategy was around their targets, meetings and trainings. Annah (Kola) – Our new RPM is reinforcing the skills and IGAs of the current six groups, while looking for new women’s groups to join in Kola. She just trained leaders in writing minutes. Heavy rains have affected the crops, and women are feeling discouraged. Regina (Malili A & B) – Floods are a major problem in Malili, affecting houses, health, markets and movement. She says, “tarmac roads are washed away by heavy rains, no vehicle or motorbike can move.” Women have piles of rope and gravel ready for sale, and no buyers because of the situation. For many IGAs, it’s also too muddy to work, such as collecting stones and casual labor, a main activity in Malili. The group that grows and sells vegetables and fruit had to throw out their rotten produce for lack of sales.