Ann Erupe
Beadwork & tailoring
She provides for four children through her own beadwork and tailoring.
“I am able to provide for my children. I no longer beg. I am a businesswoman.”
Ann grew up in the Kipsongo slum. At five she was already going with her mother to the dumpster to look for food, and in the evenings they would beg on the streets. At twelve she started begging on her own, and when she could not make enough, she and other girls turned to selling their bodies to survive. It was a harsh and dangerous life of cold nights and violent men who sometimes hit her and refused to pay. Ann hated her life so much that she wanted to die.
When the first man showed her affection she married him, but life stayed difficult, especially once she had children. With more mouths to feed, she knew she had to find another path. She was captivated by the stories of change she heard from the women of Baskets and Beads, and felt she belonged with them.
Since joining, Ann's life has changed significantly. She can provide food for her children and is learning tailoring through the group. She proudly calls herself a businesswoman. Her dream is a stable and safe home for her children.
In Ann’s words
“To make a better life for my children by taking them to school and giving them an opportunity at life like other children.”
Stand behind Ann
Gifts go into the group’s shared table banking pool and the programs that support every woman in the circle: materials, literacy, medical help, and school fees for their children.
