One Bead at a Time!

My name is Maya Eliza. I am 53 years old and live near the Nanja village in Arusha, Tanzania. I belong to the Maasai community. 

I am an entrepreneur. I sell Maasai jewellery at Nanja market, run a shop that sells garments with my son in the market, and I also teach the art of making jewellery to young Maasai women.

I have been teaching for the past 10 years. I started out with an NGO as a teacher volunteer to teach women to bead jewellery so that they could sell and earn from it.

I am now an independent teacher. I have three classes, with 50 students each. Sometimes they are able to pay, but sometimes they are not. And that is ok, I am proud to teach them this skill which they use to empower themselves. I pray for them to get more opportunities in life. 

We would earlier make jewellery for our personal use or in rituals. But now, we are able to sell it in the market and earn money. The money helps us in buying food and supporting our children.

Our children are happy, so we are happy. 

Times are now changing. When women are given the opportunity to create jewellery, they can sell it in the market and earn money. This empowers them and I want to support them in their journey. Though it was less profit during Covid. We hope it Improves soon.

When we come together to create jewellery, it is more fun. We share stories with each other, sing and laugh together and are happy when we finish work. That is why we make jewellery in groups and not alone.

Every Maasai woman who knows how to create jewellery is an artist. I am very proud to be an artist.

I have learned in life that respect can build a mountain. I respect the work that I do because of which I was able to send my children to school and run my home. I want to teach my fellow community members to be independent in life.