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The Amboni Women’s Group

Posted on June 10, 2019 by No Map Required Posted in Art, Art & Engineering, Places, Tanzania .
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Another powerful day in Tanzania! This time it was our return to visit the Amboni Women’s Group (Amboni is a small town outside of Tanga). When we met them in 2015 they were just learning skills to make items they could sell – soap, tie-dye, etc. At the time I thought everyone was very nice, but didn’t know if the group would make it. I’m here to say, four years later, they are a well-organized collective of dedicated ‘mamas’ trying to make a better future for themselves and their kids! The group’s members have changed a bit (“we only have the active mamas”), but the amount of work they are doing is staggering! It’s universal, mom’s want their kids to have the best chance possible.

2019 – showing off their craft.

When we first met the women in 2015, they were finishing a class in tie dye, called batik here in Tanga. We participated in the practicum and the end of class parade around town. Everyone was so proud and the entire village turned out to see what was going on.

2015 – The whole class learned different ways to fold fabric for batiking.

Bottom left in the yellow shirt is David who is mentioned at the bottom of the post.

Top right of the photo in blue and gold is Aisha, the chairwoman of the current group. In red is her daughter Alpha who is making amazing batiks today.
2015 – The class showed off their final projects and there was a big parade the entire village joined.

Still, when we left that day it wasn’t lost on me that our donation to the ‘women’s group’ went to the preacher man and that he kept hitting us up for more money for the church itself. I was skeptical.

When David, our friend/guide, said we’d be going back to the church this week to meet with the ladies, we didn’t know what that might mean. Another class? Just saying hello? Who knows? Well, when we arrived, women poured out of the church and lined up to welcome us. I remembered quite a few of their faces and the hugs began quickly.

Mama Edna was a hoot!
Everyone was smiling and hugging. Mama Josephina was one of the original mamas from 2015.

They led us inside and on display were oodles of handmande items they have in production. Aisha, the chairwoman, explained that they are now a group of 30 dedicated women working together and teaching each other. It’s very important to them that they all learn the different skills so they can ALL get ahead. They very much hope to get a more industrial sort of sewing machine to help them produce the shoes and bags they personally design. They also need capital for ‘raw materials’ which I think is mostly fabric.

Aisha showed me this awesome bag that she “did value add” with the beading and fabric. She is is the leader of this group and a force. Look out!

Having done a TON of shopping in the past few weeks, I can attest that these items were well made and beautiful.

A beaded purse.
The batik class took hold becuase they had many fabulous pieces made up. This is one of Alpha’s (not Mama Alpha as she’s only in her late teens or early twenties) that’s coming home with us.
I got this colorful purse, but it was hard to pick because there were so many wonderful prints to pick from.
Earrings made from fabric scraps. I can’t get enough of the fabrics!

We all sat in a circle and asked each other questions, though the mamas were mostly shy. Mama Margaret stood up and said she really needs people to know about their products because they need a bigger market to sell too. All the mamas clapped and cheered. Right now it is mostly to fellow villagers, but I know they’d sell quickly if they could just get to a market with more tourists!

Then another, Hilda, stood up and said what she wants most is to exchange knowledge with artists from America. She’d like American artists to visit Amboni and share their skills with the group, and she’d like to go to America to visit our artists in person as well as promote their products.

Hilda with one of the sandals they make. Yes, they have soles made of tires under the fabric footbed.

So. There you go. The call to action. We have many artist friends, so if anyone feels they may have something to offer, the Amboni Women’s Group expects to have their official TZ business license in the next few weeks and an official email address. We can help you connect. For right now, you can email chairwoman Aisha at [email protected] – we’ll update with their official email once we get it. We also have her phone in TZ if you’d like it.

If you’re curious, kokoliko is how they describe the sound a rooster makes (cock-a-doodle-do in the US). Aisha says she wants to make fashion that wakes people up! Love that!

What I can say, is that I think the Amboni women are very serious. We saw two members at a community trade fair the next day, selling their wares. They produce items together, sell them, and share the proceeds. While they certainly don’t have the funds to come to the US or Europe, if there’s a group that would like to sponsor them, I know they’d make the most of the opportunity!

We found Alpha in action selling batiks at a local fair the day after our visit.

We were both blown away by the level of organization and production this group has attained over the past four years. It felt like they were speaking directly to me feeling I would relate to their challenges as women. My entire career I’ve worked with brilliant, hard-working women in strong leadership roles. I watch how the women I work with invest in their team and manage households at the same time. Mama Aisha was doing the same thing! Women everywhere tend to bring others along. So when the Amboni Women’s Group told me how they are teaching each other new skills and just want to send their kids to better schools, how could I not listen? I know I’ll get compliments when I use my new swanky purse and I’ll happily tell folks about the Amboni women who made it.

A few more interesting tidbits –

In 2015 we met a different David (not our friend-guide, David) at the class. We’re happy to see that he’s part of a second church group, this one of men and youth making sandals out of old tires. He doesn’t have use of his legs, but he’s got the best smile. He is also hoping to have use of an industrial sewing machine for sandal-making.

2015 – David cheering on the class during the parade.
2019 – David’s making and decorating sandals. Yes, I needed some of those too! He then gave Aaron a pair as a gift. Those who have the least sure are generous!

And the church…

In 2015 it was under construction. A dirt floor, some windows boarded up — just a shell of sorts. I kind of assumed that’s just how it would remain as there aren’t a lot of spare funds in Amboni, but today it’s beautifully finished on the inside and they are working on a fence and toilets outside — including one David can use. I don’t know exactly what that means, but the new preacher told us that. He also thanked us for visiting and arranged a ride for us back to our hotel, which is kind of a big deal in these parts. We appreciated that.

The church in 2015 – dirt floor, altar not finished, windows boarded up…
The Amboni Church in 2019
Final photo with our favorite Women’s Group, wearing my new bag with pride. Mama Margaret is on the far right with the new preacher next to her.
8 Comments
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8 Responses

  1. Jan Prindle says
    June 11, 2019 at 6:59 am

    Anner, you can’t imagine how much your report on the women’s group meant to me. I have belonged to groups that supported such “sewers” all my life and have personally donated a lot of items and even a sewing machine to help women around the world move forward. I know women that bring the finished items to the US for sale. They work hard and do amazing work. Like you, I am sometimes skeptical of where my donations go and how they are used. It was great to read your first-hand report.

    Reply
    • facebook-profile-picture No Map Required says
      June 16, 2019 at 11:59 am

      Thanks, Jan. It was one of the more moving experiences we had on this trip – the work they are doing and their drive is so inspiring! I hope we can help them find a way to sell beyond their village. All the comments and emails have opened my eyes to how many of our friends are involved with groups like this one.

      Reply
  2. Ginger Adams says
    June 11, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    This is just so lovely. And so many beautiful pieces. What a talented group of mamas! <3

    Reply
    • facebook-profile-picture No Map Required says
      June 16, 2019 at 11:54 am

      Ginger, it was such an amazing experience. We can’t wait to show you our finds in-person. When is the next game night? We’re ready!

      Reply
  3. Laurie Wilkins says
    June 12, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Hi, I also work with women’s groups, and am always so impressed with what a groups like this can do with a little help. I’ve given the web site for a group that helps to support groups like this. In turn, people like me can attend a dinner with friends, bring food to share, and donate a little something to Dining for Women….what a good idea. Maybe this groups can contact Dining with women, and see if they might qualify for some support

    https://diningforwomen.org/about-us/

    Reply
    • facebook-profile-picture No Map Required says
      June 16, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Hi Laurie – thanks so much for this wonderful idea. Aaron has already started exploring the website. The support they are providing looks mighty impressive – it’s definitely changing lives!

      Reply
  4. Kim says
    June 13, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Wow – super inspiring! If you ever go back, please warn me so that I can send some money with you!

    Reply
    • facebook-profile-picture No Map Required says
      June 16, 2019 at 11:43 am

      Will do! And when they figure out how to sell in the US you’ll hear it here first.

      Reply

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