Alumni Connections and Business in Kenya

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Alumni Connections and Business in Kenya

By Cassandra Dasco and Emma Harby

Day three had an incredible start at Amani Ya Juu, an economic enterprise that strives to create a place of peace and transformation for refugee women. We were given a tour of the beautiful property, getting the opportunity to see the artisan workshop, fabric printing station and the storefront. An impactful part of the tour was learning about the unity quilt, where each section of the quilt symbolizes the women coming together from different cultures and finding peace together.

After the tour, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast consisting of crepes, bagels, omelets, juice and coffee. The visit ended with an opportunity to purchase products from the artisans including home goods, jewelry, and bags. Amani Ya Juu is a place of meaningful collaboration. One of the wall hangings had an African proverb on the wall that said “Pamoja Tunabadilishwa” which translates to “Together we are transformed.”

Afterwards, we made our way to Isabel’s workshop and Anchor Leather crafts, which are local businesses that create handmade jewelry, leather bags, pottery, and more. When we arrived, we were so graciously welcomed by drumming and dancing! The dancers immediately pulled us into the circle, breaking the ice in a way that made us all feel like close friends. We then got to know each of the artisans and see all of the beautiful high quality products that they made. Some of us may be coming home with a few too many leather bags and gifts! Isabel and the other artisans were then kind enough to bring us into the workshop and teach us how the different products were made. Some of us attempted making pots or clay elephants and beaded jewelry. In order to make a leather wallet, you quickly realize that these skills require patience, attention to detail, and for the person making them to care. We are genuinely so grateful that Isabel and the artisans didn't just tell us about their work, but showed us, taught us and welcomed us.

Our final stop of the day was the Unilever Kenya Ltd. in Nairobi Kenya. Josh Fishman '12, a Syracuse Whitman alum who is a Senior Brand Manager at Unilever U.S. headquarters, provided us with the opportunity to see the factory and the warehouse today. Seeing a larger business like Unilever after the more local businesses we visited in the morning allowed us to compare and contrast in a productive way.

We had a second Syracuse alum encounter while at the Fairview Coffee Estates yesterday. Katie Conti '18 (A&S) , an alum who works at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was on a separate coffee tour, but came to meet the group when she heard we were from Syracuse University. Our connection with Katie continued, and she came to dinner with us at the Home care Retreat to share about her work as a foreign U.S. Service officer in Kenya. As business students, hearing her different perspective on how the government works with business was extremely beneficial. The three stops today and our visit with Katie allowed the team to compare and contrast the various types of businesses in Kenya. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with each of the partners we visited today.

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