ABOUT MAMA BIASHARA

For some years I, as Chair of CWAC International, have been involved in microfinancing HIV+ women in the slums of Nairobi Kenya.
‘Business Not Charity’ was our motto.
£25 would start a small business selling vegetables or charcoal, second hand clothes or making chappatis.
This has been working very well. Many families now have an income. A continuing income. Not much but enough for mother and children to survive on.
The women helped, because they are HIV+, really have no options.
The HIV+ are Kenya’s Untouchables.

But these women are strong and smart, they have talents and skills, they want financial independence and the real self esteem that comes with it.
Business Not Charity
And this is what microfinance can give them.
And. In many cases, has already given them.

Now we are progressing things to create a more structured, sustainable and helpful model for future microfinance.

We are focussing the microfinancing and, because I have seen that it is necessary, offering more than finance alone.

Which is where Mama Biashara (“Business Mother”) comes in.

Mama Biashara is renting a double duka (kiosk) in a busy slum area, with good access to main roads, transport etc, and establishing a sort of business nursery.
A place to accommodate around eight baby businesses.
They would be picked for viability and financed as before.
But Mama Biashara will provide more than finance.

With a central location, Mama B will be able to ‘babysit’ the new businesses and so, while they start to find their trading feet:

• help set up the best wholesale deals

• help establish ongoing business relationships with suppliers who can deliver, landlords etc

• help identify markets.

• Through this website, market the craftwork, jewellery, handmade toys and fabrics etc, fundraise, forge business links with outlets here in the UK and relationships with directly between customers and businesswomen.

Mama B will also offer basic business trading skills. Anything from basic arithmetic, profit margins and weights and measures to computer and marketing and managerial skills.