Hold Mama Africa Support the mothers in Africa. 2017-01-15T09:02:07Z http://holdmamaafrica.com/feed/atom/ WordPress greenhippo <![CDATA[The Second Workshop of 2015 (Day 2)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1535 2015-07-10T12:49:06Z 2015-07-09T12:28:01Z Saturday 27th of June 2015

This morning, the founder woke up and was greeted by Mama Hellen’s dogs, sheep and rabbits !

Today, Mama Teresa started from teaching mamas to sew paper beads on a pieces of Kangas. 

So mamas tried. Mama Teresa was amazed to see that Murinduko mamas were first learners !

Then, break time with snacks from Sydney and Tokyo !
Mamas were so curious to try new kinds of taste.

After the break time, mamas continued making more necklaces using Kangas and paper beads.
Then Mama Teresa and the founder prepared to leave Murinduko to avoid heavy storm.
Some mamas escorted Mama Teresa and the founder to where they parked their car.

Mama Teresa and the founder thanked the Murinduko group for their hard work and wished good luck for making good products until they see each other next time !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[The Second Workshop of 2015 (Day 1)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1504 2015-07-10T12:24:10Z 2015-07-09T12:14:09Z Friday 26th of June 2015

Today, Mama Teresa, the designer from Nyeri group and the founder came to Murinduko to hold 2 days workshops for Murinduko group.
A mama leader of the Murinduko group is Mama Hellen. Among the total 15 mama members in Murinduko, Mama Hellen invited 4 mama members at her house for the workshop.
In this workshop, the mamas were to learn new products designed by Mama Teresa.

On the first day of the workshop, Mama Teresa and the founder arrived in Murinduko late in the afternoon, because of the bad and muddy road.

When they arrived, some mamas were waiting for us to take us to Mama Hellen’s house.
So, Twende (Let’s go) !

But the road to Mama Hellen’s house was even more muddy and was so hard to walk !
So we held our hands together, not to fall down ! But yes, when one falls down, the others also could fall down :(

After walking the extremely muddy road, we finally arrive at Mama Hellen’s house ! The picture tells how happy we were !

At Mama Hellen’s kitchen, Mama Kate with her little helper was cooking Mokimo (Kenyan traditional dish mixing maize, green peas and kidney beans in mashed potatoes) for hungry visitors :)

Before the food were served, Mama Teresa and the founder were discussing which products to teach in this workshop.

Then the food were served on the table.
When visiting a house in rural Kenya, it is very common that the visitors are welcomed with a lot of food before starting anything.

After eating Mokimo, 4 mamas sat down on the sofa and Mama Teresa started the workshop.

The mamas started drawing the new designs on their notes given by the founder.

Checking new designed sandals

Now Mama Teresa put all the materials on the table and let’s get started !

Today, Mama Teresa planned to teach the mamas how to make necklaces using Kanagas (Kenyan traditional materials).
Mamas were told to cut a piece of Kanaga in thin shape.

Then twist it

Mamas were concentrating very well.
But it was already 6pm so Mama Teresa decided to continue rest of the workshop on next day.

After all the mamas went homes, Mama Hellen gave Mama Teresa and the founder, warm water in a bowl to wash their dirty feet.

Then Mama Hellen warmed up the left over Mokimo as for supper 

After the supper, they had some chat and all went to sleep.
Excited for another workshop next day :)

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greenhippo <![CDATA[Visiting Mama designer’s Home (Day 2)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1463 2015-07-10T12:25:12Z 2015-07-09T09:54:06Z Thursday 25th of June 2015

This morning, Mama Teresa was very busy preparing Samuel sending to school before she leaves for workshop.
It was a chilly morning.
Samuel was dressed up with very warm clothes :)

Now, he is ready to go to school with his daddy ! Good bye Samuel and see you soon !

After sending Samuel to the school, Mama Teresa quickly got ready to leave for the workshop in Murinduko !
So Twende (Let’s go) !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[Visiting Mama deginer’s Home (Day 1)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1445 2015-07-10T12:27:19Z 2015-07-09T09:37:28Z Wednesday 24th of June 2015

Today, the founder went to Nyeri to pick up Mama Teresa, the designer of Hold Mama Africa.
Mama Teresa and the founder were to go to and hold a workshop in Murinduko, the another village which is 7 hours away from Nyeri.

When the founder arrived at Mama Teresa’s house in the late afternoon, the whole family was there to greet her !

Hold Mama Africa workshops 1

In the kitchen, Mama Teresa was preparing dishes for us !

Mama Teresa’s eldest daughter, Alice and her grandmother were also helping Mama Teresa preparing the dishes :)

While ladies were preparing the dishes, the founder hung out with other kids.
Mama Teresa’s second daughter, Margaret and the last born Samuel took the founder to show around the farms. On the farm, the founder was amazed about how maize grow quickly, because the farm that was flat just 2 months ago was now filled up with tall maize leaves !

When the founder and the kids went back to the home, Alice and her cousin showed the founder Mama Teresa’s new products. They seem to be very proud of their mother’s work :)

Whilst we were hanging out, the dishes were prepared on the table.
Dinner for tonight was Mokimo (Kenyan traditional dish mixing maize, green peas and kidney beans in mashed potatoes) and chicken stew.
They were so yummy and filled up our hungry tummies !

After having the dinner, we had cups of chai, had some chats and went to sleep.
Very excited for the workshop in Murinduko next day !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[The First workshop of 2015 (Day 2)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1430 2015-07-10T12:30:40Z 2015-07-09T08:59:58Z Friday 12th of  june 2015

Today, the 2 mothers from the last workshop, Mama Esther and Mama Jacinta joined the second day of the workshop.
The first item Mama Teresa taught was the long beaded earrings.

Mama Teresa checked every mama’s work and gave a hand.

Making…

Helping…

And here we go, the first completed earring !

 An absolute good job and nice team works !

The next item Mama Teresa taught was the earrings using Kangas (East African Traditional materials).
First, Mama Teresa put a round shaped container on a piece of Kanga and drew a circle around the container.

Next, Mama Teresa cut the Kanga in a round shape as she drew.

Then she sew the Kanga in a pretty shapes.

After Mama Teresa showing other mamas how to make earrings using Kanga, it was already almost 4pm. Mama Teresa and the founder had to leave Lanet, not to miss the last bus to their homes.

Mama Teresa, the founder and the Lanet mamas agreed to meet up in 2 weeks time to update their progress.
Mama Teresa and the founder left some materials for Lanet group and left :)
Thank you for you hard work Lanet mamas !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[The First Workshop of 2015(Day1)]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1324 2015-07-10T12:43:54Z 2015-07-09T08:57:24Z Thursday 11th of June 2015

Mama Teresa, the designer from Nyeri group and the founder held the first workshop of this year for Lanet group.

A mama leader of the Lanet group is Mama Esther. Among the total 8 mama members in Lanet, Mama Esther invited 4 mama members at her house for the workshop.
In this workshop, the mamas were to learn new products designed by Mama Teresa.

On first day of the workshop at 10 am, Mama Esther and 2 mama members attended.
Mama Teresa started introducing the mamas her new products.

Hold Mama Africa workshops 1

The mamas looked amazed with the new unique designs and the improved quality.

Now, Let’s get started the workshop !

Today, Mama Teresa was planning to train the Lanet mamas how to make accessories using banana leaves.
Mama Teresa asked Mama Esther to cut and collect some banana leaves from her garden.

Not like other tree leaves, the banana leaves are huge and very tough to cut !

The founder started helping Mama Esther cutting some more banana leaves.

And here is what they’ve got :)

They gave Mama Teresa the collected banana leaves.

Mama Teresa dipped the banana leaves into hot boiling water to make the tough banana leaves to soft.

Cut the water from the banana leaves …

And hung up the banana leaves to dry up !

After drying up the banana leaves, Mama Teresa started showing the Lanet mamas how to use the banana leaves.

Here is how it looks like in the beginning :)

Following by Mama Teresa’s example, other 3 mamas started trying by themselves.

And here is what they’ve made so far !

It is so amazing that this banana leaves with unique texture will turn into a beautiful earrings and necklaces :D

Now, they continued the workshop for 7 hours and it is already 5:30pm.
The 2 mamas had to go homes to prepare suppers for their children, but they told Teresa that they still want to learn more designs so that they requested Mama Teresa to hold another workshop on next day.
Mama Teresa happily confirmed :)

After the 2 mamas went home, it was the time for dinner at Mama Esther’s house!
Mama Esther got a bag of spinach and kales to make Skuma Wiki, one of the Kenyan traditional dish.

Mama Esther’s house helper, Mama Jacinta was also cooking beef stew in the kitchen.

This is how the kitchen where Mama Jacinta was cooking the dishes looks like.
Inside

and outside

So the food is ready, let’s eat !
Today’s great supper was Skuma Wiki, Beef stew, Chapati and Ugali !
They are all Kenyan Traditional dishes.

With plenty of tasty dishes, their tummies were filled with happiness.

After the dinner, it was already 10pm, so they all went sleep.
The founder thanked Mama Esther for the welcoming accompany and also thanked Mama Teresa for the long hours workshop.
Good night xx

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greenhippo <![CDATA[How to make paper beads]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1018 2015-05-12T17:37:49Z 2015-05-08T17:32:43Z JAMBO !

Today, I visited Lanet village, one of the villages our mother members hand make accessories, again !
The purpose of visiting this village today was to take a video film of mama Stella, one of mother members making paper beads.
I wanted to show you how our products are made J

Here is the YouTube link, please check it out !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[CHEKA Japanese restaurant]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1012 2015-05-12T17:38:02Z 2015-05-06T17:27:19Z JAMBO !

Today, I visited a Japanese cuisine restaurant in Nairobi to display our beautiful products hand made by our mother members J The products are now on sale in local !

We are so thankful to be able to introduce our products to more and new costumers !

If you are in Nairobi, please come visit CHEKA Japanese restaurant near ABC place !

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greenhippo <![CDATA[ReadyFundgo Campaign Day 3]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=1000 2015-05-02T17:43:41Z 2015-04-29T17:38:12Z JAMBO !

Happy Thursday to you all!

Happy Wednesday to you all!

ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN DAY 2 !

We are happy to see MORE and MORE people are checking out about our campaign and the promotion video !
Our promotion video has been played more than 100 times on YouTube since we have launched the campaign !
CHECK it OUT if you haven’t yet !!

AND we are so happy to announce that we have received $288 donation up to today !
This is so great…
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUPPORTERS !
Please be excited with the rewards you will be getting after the campaign !

We will keep letting the world know about our campaign !
We are hoping to get as many new fans as possible during this campaign!
(and we do have a feeling that we could do so :D )

Please NOTE that this is a WIN and WIN campaign !!
You can donate from $5 and if you donate more than $10, you will be receiving hand-made presents from our mother members !!
So it is also something exciting for the supporters :D !

For more information, please go visit our campaign website at https://readyfundgo.com/projects/hold-mama-africa-empowering-kenyan-mothers/

SHARE this blog on FB so that the world would know about this GREAT NEWS !

Thank you for reading our blog today!

See you Kesho (Tomorrow) !

LOVE from Hold Mama Africa xx

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greenhippo <![CDATA[READYFUNDGO CAMPAIGN Day 2]]> http://holdmamaafrica.com/?p=996 2015-05-02T17:37:45Z 2015-04-28T17:35:22Z JAMBO !

Happy Wednesday to you all!

ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN DAY 2 !

We are happy to see MORE and MORE people are checking out about our campaign and the promotion video !

AND we must share the HAPPY news that we have received $271 donation up to today !

We are so BLESSED and much appreciating to all the supporters !!

Please NOTE that this is a WIN and WIN campaign !!
You can donate from $5 and if you donate more than $10, you will be receiving hand-made presents from our mother members !!
So it is also something exciting for the supporters :D !

For more information, please go visit our campaign website at

SHARE this blog on FB so that the world would know about this GREAT NEWS !

Thank you for reading our blog today!

See you Kesho (Tomorrow) !

LOVE from Hold Mama Africa xx

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