How Neema Crafts changes lives

This week we share some of the stories of staff here.

 

Eliza was one of the first staff at Neema in 2003, making paper from Elephant dung. She says: ‘ I am really happy to work at Neema  and cannot think of any place I would rather be. I have food, an income and joy here. Before Neema became known in Iringa, hearing people would ignore me because I was deaf, but now they know I work at Neema Crafts they communicate with me and are happy to be seen with me. I am part of the community where I live and have friends and a family here. Working at Neema has given me experience I could never have had if it was not here. God has helped me in the past  and I pray that He will continue to help me in the future.’

 

Benjamin is well educated with a qualification in Commerce. Yet, as a disabled person as a result of polio he was unable to get work, so he spent 14 years at his parent’s home repairing shoes for little money. He is now our Weaving Manager. He says: ‘Now I can afford daily needs and send my children to school. In Iringa people respect us and see our talents. They thought we could do nothing and could not be employed but this attitude is changing slowly. I love the work I do.’

Fatuma was a normal girl until she became deaf at 9. She started business as a tailor but because she could not hear, customers went elsewhere because they thought she could not communicate. She says: ’At Neema Crafts it is great, because I am amongst other deaf people and I like working in a group with friends. Neema has not only helped me financially but also spiritually. We do bible studies every week and one time the pastor of my local church invited me to come and visit. From then I started going to church and really enjoyed it. People sign there, and I can understand the talks and the Bible. I got married as a Muslim. I continue to go to church and believe it and my faith is as a Christian.'