Empowering women from low-income communities through learning transferable glass skills and gaining knowledge for the creation of micro enterprises

Abstract

The research and practice for this MPhil thesis grew out of a desire to empower women from low-income communities in Kenya, to serve as a case study for replicating a sustainable micro-enterprise for women in other developing countries in Africa and Asia. The aim of the research is to find ways of generating income for women in Kenya as an initial research project beginning with participants from Kibera, situated on the outskirts of Nairobi, which is an area struggling with poverty and high unemployment. In Kibera, women find it difficult to escape this poverty trap. Therefore, by introducing new skills and knowledge through a recycled glass workshop, participants could potentially be given the opportunity to use these transferable skills to create a micro-enterprise, using local waste glass products and locally available materials. The two-day educational glass workshop formed the driving force for change promoting positive social, economic and environmental benefits, through knowledge sharing in recycled glass techniques. Four women from Kibera, the largest informal settlement in Africa, participated in an innovative, subsidized glass workshop at Kitengela Glass, Nairobi, aimed at equipping the participants with skills in glass mosaic and bead making techniques.

In addition to these glassmaking skills, the participants were introduced to formal creative processes including the generation of ideas through mind mapping techniques and translating these ideas into sketches for their individual designs. Throughout the mosaic and bead making processes, participants learned the principles of sustainability through using recycled waste glass and mirror shards, plywood, glue and cement, which are all materials readily available to them for potentially setting up a micro- enterprise.

Qualitative research methods, including fieldwork in Kibera during March 2018, was critical to be able to analyse and understand the problems and potential solutions for the women to create a micro-enterprise in Kibera, using transferable skills learned throughout the recycled glass workshop.

This workshop demonstrates that with effective micro-financing, this project has the potential to facilitate sustainable glass workshops and assist in the creation of micro-enterprises for empowering women, from low income communities in Kenya and other parts of Africa and Asia.

Implications and critical questions arising from this research include: •How will the women be empowered and supported once they have gained new skills and knowledge in recycled glass making techniques? •With these new skills, will it be possible to provide tools, materials and a necessary creative space for them to continue practicing their glass skills? •Will some of the participants, if not all, be able to create a micro-enterprise with skills and knowledge learned in glass bead making and mosaic techniques using recycled waste glass bottles sourced locally? •The adaptation of a sustainable awareness using waste glass for recycling. Can this be achieved over a long period of time, to be sustainable socially, economically and also for the environment? •Where will necessary funding be sourced from in order to provide finance for setting up a micro-enterprise in Kibera, Nairobi?

The research undertaken has suggested that it is feasible for the women to set up a micro-enterprise in Kibera, although to be viable and sustainable on a long-term basis, the project will require micro-financing.