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One of our hand-embroidered table
mat sets. They are machine stitched
on a treadle machine, flipped and then
hand-stitched around motifs. The
simple hand-stitching is a way women
can earn money if they can’t do the art
quilts. We buy the fabric in Africa.Some of our women and all of our girls this past Easter Sunday holding the eggs we
had just dyed—a first for them. The women hid the eggs for the girls to hunt, much
laughter and fun. Then, they all promptly ate them as eggs are a big treat.
One of our program director’s
beautiful art quilts. We get the
unfinished black tops that women
embroider/appliqué in Kenya and then
quilters like myself add borders, backs,
and hanging sleeves. They typically
sell for $60-$80 finished. We also sell
some of the unfinished black tops that
quilters can finish themselves. Every
quilt has a hand-written ‘story’ about
the quilt that is tucked somewhere on
the front, often in a lady’s handbag.ideas and images came from the women’s own experiences. What they stitched
was what they knew. These quilts are recognized as indigenous folk art.In 2017 QFE became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in 2018 a Kenya QFE
Community Based Organization was registered with the government.To support economic independence, QFE pays more than the Kenyan Fair
Trade Wage. A first priority is to pay for school fees if the woman is supporting
children, then food and household upkeep. QFE also requires the women
belong to an income-generating support group. The amount women are paid
for their quilting each month is then matched by QFE with a payment to their
support group, which has its own constitution, officers, and bank account.All women receive regular training in business and savings management.
After writing a simple business plan, women are given money to invest in an
income-generating project, such as buying livestock. All women receive on-
going mentoring and financial training. This economic empowerment not
only improves lifestyle, but enhances the women’s dignity and self-esteem. It
liberates women to realize their potential and self-worth after experiencing
trauma, stigma, and poverty.
This year, QFE is expanding its mission to include supporting young sexual
assault survivors who do not have other safe living options. QFE provides
a safe and loving environment where the survivors can heal together with
trauma-informed counseling. All the girls have US sponsors that pay their
school fees and daily upkeep. QFE pays their apartment rent and for the
salaries of their house matron and tutor. The commitment is to support the
girls through high school and beyond.
If you would like to support this effort, you may donate money or embroidery
floss. You can mail floss to: QFE, 31430 NE Canter Lane, Sherwood, OR- For more information, visit quiltsforempowerment.org, or email
[email protected].