NAIROBI // Veronica Lulua fled her village in southern Sudan in the early 1990s when war was raging between the northern Sudanese government and southern rebels. She came to neighbouring Kenya as a refugee and made her way to Nairobi, the capital, without any money or trade.
Living in poverty and taking care of five children, she was discovered by an American missionary who was starting a sewing co-operative for marginalised women.
In 1996, Ms Lulua started working at Amani ya Juu, where she learnt how to sew, was paid a fair wage and had the support of a community of women. She has since become a trainer and mentor to other women.
"I had no job before," Ms Lulua said. "Because of the help I got from Amani, I am able to pay my children's school fees. I am happy because I am able to train others and see them change like I was changed."
Swahili for "higher peace", Amani ya Juu is one of many organisations across Africa that are trying to lift the continent out of poverty by empowering women. In Africa, there is a large economic disparity between men and women, according to the UN Development Fund for Women.
"Women in Africa continue to face enormous obstacles," a UN report on women in Africa said. "The material conditions under which most women live and work continue to deteriorate in many countries due to economic and social decline, wars and conflict, and the spread of Aids. Women constitute the majority of the poor and the illiterate in both urban and rural areas in Africa."
Many African women are forced into marriage as teenagers. Some are forced into prostitution. Women form the backbone of African economies doing much of the labour, yet they still see little financial gain.
Amani ya Juu employs 100 women to make clothing, handbags and jewellery in a workshop in a quiet, shady Nairobi neighbourhood.
The women come to Amani ya Juu from backgrounds of extreme poverty. Many are refugees from war-torn countries such as Sudan, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo. They are taught how to sew, but more importantly, they gain confidence and a sense of self-worth.
"It gives them a sense of dignity," said Mary Maina, the country director of Amani ya Juu. "They have a place to go, a healing community."
The women are paid twice the local minimum wage. They learn how to stitch quilts, dresses and place mats. After four years, the women complete the programme and leave the organisation. New women join each year.
Women who leave the programme often start their own sewing co-operatives in impoverished communities. Some Rwandan and Burundian refugee graduates of Amani ya Juu went back to their countries and started similar projects training and mentoring women.
"It makes quite a difference in women's lives," Ms Maina said. "It meets their basic needs and transforms their livelihoods."
Most of the women are given a sewing machine. They work to repay the cost of the sewing machine. This type of microcredit is becoming a popular way of empowering women across Africa.
Organisations in many African countries have started lending small amounts of money to the poor entrepreneurs to start small businesses.
The loans of as little as US$25 (Dh92) are usually paid back and have a tremendous impact on people's lives.
"Microcredit projects are designed to allow women to have money, which allows them then to make choices about their children's education and their children's health care," said Una McCauley, a UN official in Togo, where the world body has a microloan project.
Amani ya Juu products are sold in an upscale boutique in Nairobi and many of the products are exported to and sold in the United States. The women are paid from the sales of the products and the administration staff salaries are funded by donors.
All of the products are fair trade, a marketing buzz word that gives the consumer peace of mind that they were not made in a sweatshop. Some of the women write their personal stories to be included with the product. This way the consumer can learn about the woman who made her new purse and how the purchase improved her life.
Amani ya Juu has improved Jerita Ayieta's life. Four years ago, she was living in poverty in western Kenya. Through the Amani ya Juu programme, she said she has not only gained economically, but spiritually as well.
"I used to wash clothes for people just to get by," she said. "Now I live in a good house. The programme has really changed my life completely. It has helped me to have inner peace."
mbrown@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M2%2C%208-core%20GPU%2C%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.3-inch%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201600%2C%20227ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%3B%20Touch%20Bar%20with%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206%2C%20Bluetooth%205.0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2058.2Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2020%20hours%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%2C%20ProRes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Stereo%20speakers%20with%20HDR%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20support%2C%20Dolby%20support%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Pro%2C%2067W%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh5%2C499%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The UAE's journey to space
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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