Gonga Waya Designs
Through a God given idea, Abel made a frame with aluminum wire. He has trained over 40 people how to do this handicraft and has provided a better life for his family is working to improve his community.
These extremely talented people have come together with one purpose: to improve their lives through their God- given talents. Through the creativity and leadership of Abel in Kenya, these men and women are having changed lives! They hand craft beautiful frames, utensil sets and more using mostly recycled products.Currently, Abel has three workers with him. When you walk through the markets of Kenya, you will see Abel's frames all over - evidence that his vision and leadership has helped change hundreds of lives. He has been able to train artisans so they can have their own businesses and provide for their families. They have now expanded into making keychains, trays, spoon sets, salt and pepper shakers and more! Abel has a heart for his community and wants to see change happen. He chooses to live on a certain means in order to help change the future of those he meets.
The Heavenly Treasures team has been able to visit with Gonga Waya annually. We have shared times of prayer and fellowship with them. We have talked with them, sharing stories of life, love, struggle, triumph and God's redeeming love. Please pray for this amazing family and amazing business so that they would be change agents in their community and families!
Pamoja Youth Crafts
Pamoja Youth Crafts was founded by Wilberforce Seka. He met John and Milton of Zakale creations in 2006/2007 at the different maasai markets and they used to be stall neighbors and he could see what they make and try to come up with his own designs. They helped him to know about jewelry and also how he could go about the skill of craft making. Since then Seka has been making his own jewelry and selling to different people. He attends most of the Maasai markets and has seven people whom he employs when he has big orders. Among them is his elder brother. His house doubles as both a house and his workshop. He has been able to pay college school fees for himself and completed a two-year diploma in sales and marketing and hopes to pursue further education when he gets the funds.
Zakale Creations
Zakale Creations is a small business situated in the Kiamaiko ,Huruma Slums of Nairobi. It is a tough place to live, riddled with gangs, drugs, crime, prostitution, and other evils. But sometimes people are able to break through these challenges and are able to see hope and a future rather than repeating the cycle of poverty. John began a workshop making handicrafts from recycled metals and glass. Through his own God given gifts and abilities he began his small business in the slums. He chose the name Zakale because it means "reuse" or "recycle." Those in the project have learned amazing skills, been able to break free from their past and break free into a future. Each item made is created from recycled wire, hand twisted and manipulated into amazing pieces of art. Their lives are being reused for good and the business is flourishing. They are making a difference in their community and having a positive impact.
African Banana Bark Art
At African Banana Bark Art, Elisha, Founder, and his young artisans are keeping their eyes to serve and their hands to learn. Everyday they meet to create products such as picture frames, wall hangings, Christmas nativity cards, greeting cards with animals and people, art designs on cloth and canvas and gift card tags. All products are made uniquely using banana bark. They are even expanding their business to learn to carve wooden utensils. Elisha’s long term business goal is to “reduce unemployment by empowering most youth in the community.” He hires youth because it gives them a job that is not involved in crime, drug or prostitution activities. Maintaining the equipment supply of materials used with banana bark sometimes runs out very quickly so another business goal is to see more sales and business expansion happen in order to meet this need.
Craft Options
Charles and Magdalene are wood carvers working from their home which is tucked away in the serene tea fields of Limuru. They use sustainable Jacaranda wood to carve all sorts of bird species. They employs between 7 to 15 people depending on the orders they have. At the Maasai markets you will find some artisans selling wooden birds but it cannot be compared to what craft options produces. They cure their wood, and have a strict production process that ensures a finished painted bird carving will last for over 30 years. Charles is a jovial and outgoing businessman who does most of the marketing for their business. Magdalene is the anchor who hold the business together as well the human resource manager. They employ the outcasts in their community and give them hope to get on their feet.
Hakuna Matata Arts
Hakuna Matata Arts is a recycling business in the Nairobi suburbs of Githurai . George is the proprietor and he employs 15 to 20 young men from his neighborhood. They collect scrap metal from garages and yards all over Nairobi . It is literally filled with all sorts of old scraps from car parts, cow horns and old tree stumps. All these rusty old products are converted into beautiful crafts. Many youth are unemployed and George has made it his mission to train and nurture them as they prepare to enter different job markets after finishing high school.
Fruitful Talent Center
In Kibera slums, there are many orphaned children and youth who do not attend school due to lack of school fees. The Fruitful Center, run by Jane and Beatrice provides a safe haven for this vulnerable children. They provide basic education and two hot meals a day. Through the sales of crafts that they buy and sell at the market, they are able to sustain and feed the children at the center.
Kitenge Dolls
Agnes lives with her laughter in a low income area in Nairobi North. She lives in a small room where her sewing machine also sits. She makes dolls and stuffed animals from Kitenge fabric. (Traditional African material). She lives with her two daughter and granddaughter. Her sewing business supports her family with their basic needs.
Creative Art Designs Africa
Was founded by Christopher Matere Sianje. He paints using acrylic paints various objects like guords , wooden bowls, masks etc. Chris is also a maize farmer in Transzoia cointy. He got his inspiration by watching people through his many travels upcountry and in the markets. He believes that he has some of the best artwork and does not shy away from letting his customers know.
Jamkia Art and Craft
“Jamkia” stands for Jane’s first and last name, Wamjiku. Jane designs beautifu lampshades, candles, bowls, glass jar covers, placemats, purses and bags from an a assortment of beads. Her attendtion to detail and finish of the products are second to none.
Kyebelleca Designs
Kybeleca Designs from Nairobi Kenya, is a group of refugee women from the great lakes, Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo.
Tausi and Irene are seamstresses who specialize in african designs, table mats, aprons, gloves, tissueholders, and bags. They sew out of Tausi's home. Tausi’ husband is a tentmaker - a pastor at their church but since he is not paid, he makes a living teaching french and tutoring. Tausi is able to help provide for her family by her small sewing business. Refugees in Kenya don't have many rights so it's vital for her to have this small business that she can earn a living and provide for her six children. Tausi is quite trendy and it shows in her designs. has several different new bags she has designed with the help of Christina encourage her through product development. Tausi and her family love God and have a desire to see people and their community come to Christ. Please pray for Tausi and Irene as they seek God and work hard to find a better life for themselves Sisal Sisters
Chosen Beauty
“Chosen Beauty” is not just a name of Neddy Dingili’s business but her life story.Neddy handicrafts beautiful jewelry out of recycled paper and magazines. She then rolls the paper into beads, seals it and designs them into beautiful bracelets and necklaces.
Mrembo Africa
Mrembo Africa is a Nairobi-based ethical fashion brand that seeks to build hope and create sustainable economic empowerment for its women artisans. The brand uses vibrant African motifs to uniquely enhance modern designs, allowing traditional artistry and skills to be channeled into new markets. Mrembo Africa employs both local Kenyan and refugee women aiming to strengthen their sewing and tailoring skills so that they are able to support themselves and their families.
Hellens Bead Jewelry
Helinah Wahiru known as “Helen” makes & sells beaded bracelets, necklaces, earrings, keychains made out of a variety of colored beads, magazine beads and wire. She also uses her beading technique on leather sandals.
Laboret Sewing Group
The Laboret Sewing Project is group of men and women in Laboret, a village located in Western Kenya. It was started by Pastor Japhet, a long time friend of Heavenly Treasures. Pastor Japhet has an incredible heart to serve God and his people and carries the message of God's love wherever he goes. He started his church with just 7 people, and within four years they had grown to 60 adults (plus children). Seeing the needs of some of his congregation, Pastor Japhet started a sewing project as a way to help provide for their livelihood. He approached Christina Gaulton about partnering with Heavenly Treasures and we have been working with the group since 2011. The Laboret group makes drawstring gift bags out of traditional African fabrics, and have recently expanded their product line to making reusable shopping bags. They have been able to receive large orders through our wholesale divison. The group now has a small workshop on the property of their church. They have 12 men & women in their project. We pray that God will continue to bless the ministry of this church as well as the sewing project and that lives will continue to change and transform through this work!
Koje Lampshades
Nick Koje is a 27 year young man who was taught the craft of making lampshades by his father. He designs and makes aluminum brass coated lampshades. Nick trained as a procurement officer in a college in Nairobi and after graduating school he could not find a job. He opted to join the family business. However things did not work out as he had planned. They fell out with his dad and he started abusing alcohol. One sunday afternoon as he was waking up from his hangover he stumbles onto a televangelist on his tv and this turned his life around. He started designing his own lampshades in Rongai,. In a few months he had employed two artisans and today he has opened two workshops with 14 artisans and he has reconciled with his father whom they work together. His workshop is loud since it involves banging and chiseling patterns on aluminum sheet metal. He has given hope to the youth in his community.
Naet Women group
These are a group of 40 women who are recovered alcoholics who have turned into sewers and knitters. They used to brew illicit brew and sell it in their local villages. Run ins with law enforcement landed some of them in police cells but also made them witty and crafty in the business. They would dig the doorsteps of the homes and hide liters of booze since it would be the last place any law enforcement officer will search. They would rub sheep fat onto the plastic containers and transport the alcohol into the major town of Eldoret and this would go undetected. They have now come out of this trade and have undergone training in sewing and knitting. They make beautiful beanies, blankets and scarfsKoje Lampshades
Mugo Stone
John Mugo specializes in oil and acrylic painting primarily inspired by wildlife and nature. From his early years in primary school , he knew he wanted to be an artist. After finishing high school , he was not able to join college due to lack of school fees as is the case of many talented young men and women in Kenya. He decided to start free lance painting and selling his work at different markets. An American customer liked his work and gave him several orders and from then on, his business thrived. In 2006 he had kidney failure and he had to get a transplant. This took a huge toll on his business as he had to sell most of his art work to save his life. He went through dialysis and is now back on his feet. He has his workshop and works with his two sons in Githurai who are also turning out to be incredible artists.
Mogendi Artwork
Noah Mogendi has been selling soapstone and banana bark nativity sets for 28 years now. He’s from Kisi, Kenya. The town of Kisi is known for its soapstone production and making. Stones from rock quarries are collected in Kisi and many people go into soapstone business. Kisi is also known for banana plantations and the bark is stripped and used to make art
Utamaduni Jewellery
In Swahili “Utamaduni” means, “culture.” For Gabriel Muragy Thuita, the cultural heritage in Kenya has inspired his jewelry artwork. The beads, metal and styles are influenced from primitive art, and Gabriel says he modernizes the jewelry so the modern person can admire it and wear it. Gabriel cares so much for his customers. He states, “we use original raw materials so customers are not affected by them. If they are they will know. Being honest is what is most important to us.” The Jewelry includes brass necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
Sign Curio Shop
Hosea Azere Omare makes drums and sells antique masks in his curio shop. He has been selling for 18 years. The masks he gets are from the Rendili, Turkana and Potok tribes. He visits these villages to buy masks. He states, “Go into places as a friend, don’t show that your only intention is to come in and take from people. Make stories with people then they will call you a friend after thirty minutes. Then after one hour they will call you a brother.
Tinga Tinga Art
Charles Karuiki works with talented artists from Tanzania who specialize in Tinga Tinga art.
Tingatinga is one of the most widely represented forms of tourist-oriented paintings in Tanzania, Kenya and neighboring countries. The genre is named after its founder, Tanzanian painter Edward Said Tingatinga.The drawings themselves can be described as both naïve and caricatural, and humor and sarcasm are often explicit.
Kim Art Craft
You will find Bernard Kimani (Kim) in all the major markets in Nairobi. He is quite the charmer. He deals mostly with African crafts like maps and art work. Always wearing a baseball cap and a huge smile he has a larger than life personality. Kim learnt this trade from his dad who still has been in the craft business for over 40 years.
Timberland Curios
Victor Kariuki is an entrepreneur who works with cow horns to create beautiful crafts from jewelry to home goods. His big size can be intimidating but a he has a very gentle soul. He works with eight to ten producers who source the cow horns from one of the largest abatures in the country ;Dagoretti .
Judy Fabrics
Judy Kamende is a fabric trader who deals mainly with scarves, kikoys and blankets. She is soft spoken and a very smart business lady. She is always in all the major Maasai markets in Nairobi.
Mr. Happy and Cheap Curios
Wycliff is a cheerful young entrepreneur who prides in selling bracelets and sandals. He countries patriotism can be seen through the crafts he designs. They are mostly in Green, white, black and red which are Kenya’s flag colors.
Blue Art Creations
Peter Gachire (Gash) is a very talented jewelry designer. As a young apprentice to a jewelry maker in downtown Nairobi, gash learnt the ropes of jewelry design quite fast and opened his own shop. He says he still work with his mentor to this day. He employs eight artisans when he has big orders. On a permanent basis he has three guys working with him.
Omosh Arts
Collins Omondi has been a craft trade for over 18 years. He learnt the business of trading through his sister. Most of his art work comes from Ghana and Zimbabwe. Collins is a tenacious business man who keeps rising through the difficult times in business. He occasionally helps Heavenly Treasures Kenya in packaging product for export as he is very thorough.
Jerich Crafts
Jemimah and Richard are husband and wife who make the cutest soapstone crafts. From wild animals to hearts and star shaped designs , they have been doing soapstone business for over 25 years. Soapstone only comes from one area in Western Kenya ; Tabaka Kisii. The process involves mining the stone then its sold to an experienced carver who makes the rough outlines of the different art forms, goes through the sanding process then its transported to Nairobi where Jemimah and Richard employ ten craftsmen to do the finish work and the paint job. Julius is the creative mind while Jemimah is a tough business lady who runs a tight ship. You will certainly find her at all the markets and expos countrywide.
Jakiki enterprises
James Kimani is a bead and wire artist. He creates the most sophisticated beaded animals using bead and wire. From an ancient dinosaurs to domestic animals like sheep, James does not hold back. He works with five artisans full time staff in North east of Nairobi ; Githurai.
Jedando Crafts
Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Fair Trade Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony".
An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bone for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns African mud cloth designs.
Machakos Cooperative Union
Machakos Cooperative Union (MCU) is an umbrella organization for 81 primary organizations spread across 15 sub counties in Machakos and Makueni counties. The original purpose behind the establishment of the Union in the 1960s was to assist primary coffee farmers societies to grow and market their coffee. Over the years the Union has grown and expanded its membership to include primary producers in handicrafts and dairy sectors. These primary organizations which comprise of cooperatives and women groups are serving over 60,000 individual members. We assist the cooperatives and groups to access markets both local and international. In doing so, we work with partners to build capacity, improve production and ensure quality to meet international standards.
Joseph Culture and Art Center
Joseph Muiruri prides himself in developing African art decorative items from plants like calabashes and bananas. He lives in and works in his home Kangemi where he has rented an extra room for his workers next to his house. He is always in a good mood and smiling even during tough times. He is also a maize and wheat farmer in his rural home in Rumuruti Kenya.
Nelmwa Crafts
Nelson Nginge is jewelry maker and started his business in 2008. He is a designer deals with aluminum, bones, bronze and brass. He has trained over eight young men and women in making jewelry. Nelson is also an expert in proposal writing and data collection.
Wanjama Crafts
Harun Wanjama is the proprietor of Wanjama crafts. He has three employees who help him in his jewelry business. Harun is the kind of vendor in the market who does not chase after clients or haggle too much. He has many wholesale clients who he has done business with them for years. He says ‘ kizuri chajiuza Kibaya chajitembeza’ ( Something good sells itself, the bad ones advertises itself). So far it has worked for him in his business.
Keli Crafts
Frederick Keli is a jewelry designer. He makes his jewelry from brass and silver. With over 20 years of experience, some of his jewelry has sold in Nordstrom and Neman Marcus. He has eight guys in his downtown Nairobi workshop who specialize in high end bracelets, earrings, necklaces from silver and brass.