This basket is hand-crocheted by Mary Kanini. 
Mary is married with three kids who are now attending secondary school. Being a part of this project has been very special to her because of the income she has received as well as the happiness she finds in making baskets. Her unique style is based on perfect neatness and creating strong contrasts. 
 
The first thing she did with the money from the sale of her baskets was build two pit toilets for her home. She then bought ten goats, one cow, and some chickens. She has since bought many new utensils for cooking, nice new clothing for herself, water tanks to store water, and an iron sheet for her roof. 
The women also have the option to learn how to crochet, which is a traditional craft in Tharaka Nithi, Kenya. This income-generating opportunity has been a source of pride for the women. Many can send their children to school, repair their homes, buy new clothes, animals, and food, and get proper health care.
 
Merry-Go-Strong (501 (c) (3)) and the Tharaka Women’s Welfare Program (TWWP) work with rural women in Tharaka Nithi Kenya. These women are part of adult literacy groups and were not able to get an education.
 
MGS provides the acrylic yarn to help the women get started and then buys the baskets when they are completed. Proceeds from the resale of the baskets go to initiatives like illuminating homes, providing water collection systems, and building a maker space for workshops and skill-building opportunities.
 
This basket comes with a photo of Mary holding the basket she made.
 
Size: approximately 8"x 8"
Number of colors: 4
Material: Acrylic yarn
Maintenance: Machine wash in cold and air dry
Storage and shipping: this basket folds flat and is easy to ship and store