Christine Nicodemus is a tailoring trainee in eduKenya’s skills training program. She joined the program in March 2012 and is due to graduate in November 2013. Christine attends classes in tailoring in the mornings, after which she runs her jua kali tailoring business in the afternoons.Jua kali means “hot sun” in Swahili and refers to the large informal sector in Kenya. Jua kali micro businesses include selling fruits and vegetables, clothing and a sundry of other items at kiosks. Entrepreneurs such as Christine sit under the fierce sun in open-air kiosks and sell their wares to make a small daily wage. For Christine, the income earned from selling her clothing supports the education of her three children, one of whom is a sixth grade student at eduKenya’s Kwa Watoto School.Christine has learned essential tailoring skills through the program. She is able to design, cut and sew fabric to make clothing according to desired style and size. She has spent much of this year making school uniforms for Kwa Watoto students, which has both provided her the opportunity to practice newly learned skills and also produced beautiful new uniforms for the students.Learning the skill of tailoring has not only helped Christine’s family through the income earned from her jua kali clothing business, but also aided her siblings for whom she makes clothing. Community members have also started placing clothing orders with Christine, which provides additional income for her family.Despite the challenges of raising a family on a very small income, enduring several bouts of illness and running her jua kali business while taking the skills training classes, Christine has persisted in the program, knowing that the income generating skill of tailoring will make a big difference in helping raise her family’s standard of living and educate her children.We are inspired by Christine and look forward to celebrating her graduation from the skills training program in November![caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="420"]

Jua Kali businesses in Nairobi[/caption]