December Kenyan Woman of the Month

Name

Hannah Wanjiku Ngugi

Age

What Pangea Women’s Network Cooperative are you apart of?

Leo Toto Kangemi

Tell us about yourself

I am 60 years old, mother of 4, and grandmother of 7. I reside in Kangemi area in Nairobi and conduct my businesses there as well. My businesses include rearing chicken and making handcrafts from yarn such as flowers, carpets, and wall rugs. I also rear livestock in my rural home including cows and goats. I sell animal products to make money.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the fact that I have become an empowered woman by the fact that I have my own business and can earn a living. Previously, I had to rely on others, and when I became a widow, I had to fend for myself and my family. Through associating with other like-minded women, I have been able to get ideas to implement and which have generally improved my life. I have also ensured that my children complete their education and some are gainfully employed.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned with The Pangea Network?

The Pangea Network taught me a lot of skills that I have found useful. What I liked most was the Business Skills training. I have become better at keeping my business records for the different products I offer to my customers. This way, I am able to separate business money from money for my personal use. I also learned a lot about market research; that I should find a market for a product that I intend to bring to the market. In addition, how to get the product to the customer is key as some may want the product delivered at their doorstep.

Human rights also interested me and I am now better aware of my rights as a human being and where I can seek help in the event I have an issue that violates my rights. I try to share these lessons with people around me so that they are also aware of.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business?

To start with, orders for eggs from my chicken rearing business went down starting in April after hotels closed to help curb the spread of the virus. I had to sell the many eggs at a low price just so they don’t go bad. This is also the period I resorted to starting making handcrafts to substitute my income. Most of the crafts we do as a group had their market affected as there was no flow of tourists into the country, who make our main customers. I wanted to make something that could be used locally and so I came up with carpets, décor flowers made from yarn as well as wall rugs.

Currently, the business environment is improving as sales have started increasing. I hope that all our businesses will be restored and even operate better after having a tough year.