Our team

One team. One mission. A Circle that crosses borders.

Baskets and Beads Kenya is a team connected by a shared commitment to creating opportunity, strengthening families, and expanding hope.

Our work happens across borders, but our mission is shared. Together, we lead programs, support women and students, connect artisans with markets, and build the Circle of Transformation.

The team

The people who keep the Circle turning.

Eldonna Lewis Fernandez

Founder & US Director

Eldonna is a visionary founder and strategic advocate dedicated to eradicating poverty through the power of entrepreneurship. As the driving force behind Baskets and Beads Kenya, she has pioneered a hand up, not a hand out model that empowers women in Kenya's Kipsongo slum to move from survival to self-sufficiency. Her work is rooted in the belief that economic opportunity is the ultimate catalyst for dignity and lasting community change.

Through the marketing and sale of handcrafted baskets, beads, and artisanal products in the United States, Eldonna has created a bridge between grassroots Kenyan craftsmanship and the global marketplace. Her work has provided a sustainable alternative to the streets, allowing women to leave high-risk environments and provide for their families with pride. Her cross-sector approach includes wholesaling to retail stores and integrating the mission into her professional speaking engagements.

A published author and speaker, Eldonna uses her Book and a Bead initiative to share the stories of these resilient women with audiences worldwide. By combining storytelling with tangible commerce, she makes every speaking platform a direct engine for impact. Her leadership continues to scale the reach of the organization, proving that through mentorship, market access, and faith it is possible to build self-sustaining families and change the trajectory of an entire community.

Leila Salim

Kenya Director

Leila is a social worker and dedicated minister whose life's work is defined by the intersection of faith, empathy, and economic empowerment. A wife and mother of two, her journey began in 2009, but it was a profound personal loss in 2017 that became the catalyst for her mission. Realising the privilege of having a support system during grief, Leila felt a call to serve the women of the Kipsongo slum, who often face overwhelming loss without the safety net of time, resources, or financial stability.

Driven by a commitment to move beyond handouts toward true empowerment, Leila founded a micro-finance initiative in August 2017. What began as a table banking model for five women has grown into a community of more than 24 businesswomen and leaders across Kitale and Mount Elgon. By establishing governance structures and fostering a culture of mutual encouragement, she has helped these women move from survival and scavenging to dignified entrepreneurship.

Through her partnership with Baskets and Beads, Leila continues to bridge the gap between emotional healing and financial independence. Her approach combines professional expertise in social work with a deep-rooted belief that sustainable change happens one woman at a time. Years into this journey, she remains focused on her ultimate dream: building self-sustaining families through mentorship, entrepreneurship, and the restorative power of faith.

Dorcas Iris

Kenya Program Manager

Dorcas is a resilient leader whose life story is a testament to the power of transformation. A single mother of five, she overcame a childhood on the streets of Kitale and a difficult season in the Kipsongo slum to become a pillar of her community. Driven by a determination to provide a better future for her children, she moved from a life of survival to one of purpose, becoming one of the founding five members of Baskets and Beads Kenya.

As a master artisan, Dorcas brings real skill and creativity to her craft, specialising in intricate seed bead baskets, handbags, and jewellery. Her expertise extends into the organization's sewing initiative, where she produces everything from professional-grade table sets to custom apparel. Her work is not just a source of income but a medium for storytelling and craftsmanship that reflects her own journey from hardship to artistry.

Today Dorcas serves as the Kipsongo Slum Manager, overseeing local operations and mentoring other women on their path to independence. Her leadership is particularly significant because it breaks long-standing tribal traditions, establishing her as a rare and respected female voice in community decision-making. Through her strength and daily commitment to excellence, she continues to inspire a new generation of leaders to challenge the status quo and build self-sustaining lives.

Vanessa Romero

Creative Director

Vanessa Romero is a creative, connector, and collaborator whose work is rooted in a deep passion for uplifting others. She brings a rare ability to inspire ideas, build meaningful relationships, and turn vision into action. With a strong instinct for creativity and storytelling, Vanessa adds valuable perspective and energy to every initiative she touches. As a member of the board for Baskets and Beads Kenya, she contributes insight, heart, and strategic creativity to help advance the organization's mission and expand its impact.

In the work

The Circle is built through relationships.

Transformation doesn’t happen through programs alone. It happens through people who show up, listen, learn, encourage, and walk alongside one another.

From Kenya to the United States, our team works together to support the women and students we serve, connect artisans with opportunity, and build relationships that make the Circle of Transformation possible.

Eldonna, Leila and Dorcas together in matching Baskets and Beads shirts

Eldonna and Leila speaking at a conference

An earlier photograph: Eldonna holding a child beside a woman in a pink shirt

Be part of the Circle.

The Circle of Transformation grows through people who believe women can create value, children deserve opportunity, and communities can change.

There is a place for you in the Circle.

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