Recycled copper and steel wire in the shape of a bicycle, a common mode of transportation in Western Kenya
Safety pin for wearing the pin on a lapel, hat, or backpack
Called "boda boda" by the locals, bicycles are used as public transportation (you ride on a padded rack on the back) and are named for the bikes used to transport people across the border between Uganda and Kenya -- from border to border
Pin is approximately 2 inches wide
Artisan Story: The main mission of The Teenage Mothers and Girls Association of Kenya is to provide vocational skills to young women, many of whom are unwed mothers who have been ostracized by their family and community, empowering the young women to earn a living wage. Operating out of a new center called the City of Hope in Kisumu, Kenya, the young women choose from job training in tailoring, hairdressing, secretarial skills, craft making, and computers. As a community center, the organization provides an educational forum for HIV/AIDS awareness and other health issues, as well as a clinic, a nursery, and a school. Many of the young women participate in making crafts, earning income to support themselves and their families. Through its income-generating arm Afrika Pamoja, the organization has also become a craft center for the artisans and craftspeople in the town of Kisumu by providing local and international sales outlets that make available a sustainable income for many in the community.
