Idriss Peace and Hope Garage
September 13, 2024
Esther Inspire Hands Creation Enterprises (IHCE)
Crafting tomorrow’s hope from today’s hands, one bead at a time, one stitch at a time.
Help Esther raise $500 to expand her business, purchase new equipment, and begin offering new training programs for women and girls.
Maak Impact connects refugee entrepreneurs with supporters to fund innovative projects.
Funds go directly to projects, empowering refugees to build sustainable businesses and overcome poverty.
Supporters receive project updates and emails and are encouraged to volunteer their skills to help our entrepreneurs.
Business Overview
Many women in Kakuma have unique skills to make beautiful crafts and products, but they do not have access to the tools and capital necessary to start their own business. As well, general education and economic opportunities are less accessible for women in Kakuma. Seeing these problems Esther started IHCE as a way to enable refugee women to use their skills to earn income for themselves and their families.
IHCE provides the tools and materials for women to produce their products, which typically include traditional beaded jewelry, bags, and clothing. The business also gives them a market to sell their products in provides training for women who are looking to improve their skills. The workspace and marketing are also provided for the women by IHCE.
The Entrepreneur
Esther is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has lived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp for the past six years. She experienced firsthand a great deal of violence and persecution in her home country, and eventually made the difficult decision to move her life to Kenya in search of better opportunities. Shortly after arriving in Kakuma, she turned her skills as a tailor and craftswoman into a profitable business, and now is trying to help other refugee women do the same.
Get Involved
Esther is looking to raise $500 to purchase a new sewing machine and supplies for her business, as well as things like solar panels and other utilities to help improve the working conditions for herself and the women she works with. She wants to expand her training program to increase the number of women able to work with her, and these improvements to her business would go a long way towards making that a reality. Your donation can make a real difference for Esther and the many refugee women and girls that she is helping in Kakuma.
