Turkana Development Project
Our dream for Turkana is simple: to create a space for growth and opportunity. Despite its rich cultural significance, Turkana is regarded as the least developed - and most impoverished - region in Kenya.
Through skills training, ethical wages, and holistic care, Imani Collective provides an opportunity for artisans in Turkana to rise above poverty and create a new way forward for their families.
Milestones in Turkana
2020
In March of 2020, we opened our Turkana location in Lodwar with 10 women as a training program and began working with basket-weaving artisans in the region.
2022
In September of 2022, we purchased land in Turkana and installed a perimeter fence, dreaming that one day this land would hold our workshop facilities, an agricultural plot, clean water for the community, and a community outreach center.
In 2023, we partnered with Drill for Life to bring clean water to the Turkana region. We began the construction of a borehole on our land in Turkana and hit water!
2023
2024
Installed a solar panel pump, completing our clean water project.
Built temporary structures – a workshop, childcare space, kitchen, latrine, and storage space.
Dedicated the space and officially moved our women to the land – to their land.
And we're just getting started.
Phase 1
Purchase of land + fence installation
Phase 2
Building of temporary structures on the land
Phase 3
Building of guest housing and community center
Phase 4
Developing of community garden
Phase 5
Building of permanent workshop structures
Phase 3
For Mariam Echwa Ethekon, life before joining Imani Collective was very hard and during those desperate times, being a 65 year old widow, she had to work tirelessly looking for reeds to make brooms to sell in order to be able to provide at least one meal a day for her family.
This is no longer her story after joining Imani Collective as she is now able to easefully put food on the table and pay her children's school fees with no worries attached. Last year, she started a side business selling cereals to your community on the weekends and was even able to rebuild her house!
Phase 3 will see the construction of a community center and guest housing that will allow us to partner with other organizations, bringing much needed additional aid to the region.
