Susan - July 18th 2008

Well today was an emotional day for us as not only did the weavers leave, but then we later said goodbye to the people who we have gotten to know who will benefit from the project.
Today we decided to take a matatu (public transport) to Karambu's home to meet the weavers, but we ended up waiting more than an hour in a matatu until it filled up. People are not so worried about time as they are in the US! When we got there everything was in full swing, and George said people came as early as 8:30. Such a far cry from the first day when people didn't even start arriving until 12:30 pm. It really shows commitment and enthusiasm to me. We finished out the morning workshopping at the three stations. One woman worked late into the night and early in the morning and finished a very lovely scarf. Another one was well into a second scarf when got there and it was finished before I left. Again a full house of men and women making carpets on the three wall looms, scarves on our loom, spinning and carding wool. Then finishing touches were put on placemats and scarves by tying off the end.
The weavers needed to leave and go back to Nairobi and everyone was so sad to see them go. It was touching to see how close the Meru women and men had become to them. We did a closing ceremony, and George the weaver pledged his support to the group. He told me he had helped three street children on drugs and turned their lives around and now they are weavers earning a good living. He said he grew up poor and just wants to give back. We are so blessed to have found him.
I stayed three more hours helping to sort out and organize the materials, spare parts etc that we were leaving there and also to bring some school supplies to a nearby local school. I asked some of the members to say some closing words for the camera. And that was it. We said good-bye to everyone and we had a closing circle. They sang us a raucous goodbye song in either Meru, Kiswali or Swahili, I don't know which language. And we closed with a blessing. And then it was over.
Although we have some major fundraising to do-- the week with the weavers cost about $1,000 including all the materials they left behind (we only had about $300 left, and International Peace Initiatives covered the rest) we also have to raise money for the training of four people with George in Nairobi for one month. Including living expenses that will cost about $2500. After that it is really up to the people to earn their living and purchase more materials and equipment with the money they make from their products. George says that people in the weaving community of Nanuki (about two hours from Meru) are only weavers and they will pay top shilling for thin wool yarn which our Ladybug spinning wheel is so good for. But though the women learned to spin, they need more training so it's absolutely smooth with no little lumps. That will take a month, he says. So we want to send four people to train with him and one will learn spinning, one dyeing, one floor loom and one wall loom. Then the idea is the four experts will go home and share and they will work as a co-op.
So I will close the wool blog for now. Lilly and I will go to Samburu tomorrow for a one-day safari. On Sunday we return to Juja to Sister Luise's place (about four hours from Meru) and early Monday morning Sister Luise's driver will take us to the airport. We'll overnight in London and hopefully get to visit a lively pub and then we return to Denver where we will undoubtedly feel some culture shock as we return home. It is a different world here!