Knitted Hand Puppet - Lion

Kenana Knitters

Located in the agricultural community of Njoro in Kenya, Kenana Knitters works with 580 artisans, the majority of whom are women. The female artisans have had few income earning opportunities because of limited educational backgrounds and their family responsibilities. By working with Kenana Knitters, which is a profit-share group, they can earn a sustainable income, create long-term economic plans, and take care of their families with a flexible work schedule. Kenana Knitters provides them with access to regular health check-ups, family planning, HIV treatment and counseling, and educational opportunities including daily newspapers. What began as a grassroots organization founded by a local Kenyan in 1998 is now an organization positively impacting and educating hundreds of artisans who can be confident in their work and proud of what they create together. We are excited to work with these talented artisans on an exclusive collection of hand and finger puppets at The Little Market.
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THE TECHNIQUE

Artisans at Kenana Knitters in Kenya create beautiful hand-knit finger and hand puppets found at The Little Market. The presence of knitting techniques in Africa dates back to the late 1800s, when early missionaries working in the region introduced it to local communities. Since then, knitting has been passed down across generations in small pockets around Kenya, often by mothers teaching their daughters. To hand-knit these puppets, Kenana Knitters uses organic cotton and natural fibers. The cotton is sourced from neighboring Tanzania; the artisans ply and twist the cotton before dyeing it with AZO-free dyes. It takes them approximately 30 minutes to create one puppet. These puppets can be easily washed and are very durable.
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Kenya

Kenya has a population of more than 35 million people comprising of 42 ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture, as well as Asian, Arab and European Communities, which makes for a fascinating mix of traditions and cultures. Kenya’s multifaceted culture is expressed in different forms, from its people and language, food, music and dance, art, artifacts, theatre and literature to its ethnic values and ethical norms.

Kenya is among the world’s 30 poorest countries, ranking 145 out of 185 countries on the 2012 Human Development Index, and more than one-half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line on less than US $1 a day. Years of drought in this region have had a serious impact on the well-being of children, increasing malnutrition rates, morbidity and mortality.
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Fair Trade Products

Fair Trade is an approach to international trade centered around equitable partnerships, transparency and respect. It seeks to empower marginalized producers by providing them safe working conditions, fair pay, and a means to establish a sustainable business free from exploitation. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we are committed to the Fair Trade principles.
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