The story of the kanga project

"I'll see what I can do" were my last words to Gloria Nkungu, founder of the Rural Women Development Association (RWDA), as we said our goodbyes in September 2004 after she'd infused me with her determination to help the women of her region become politically, socially and economically empowered. She strongly felt that unless women were given a voice and some practical and financial help, the communities they lived in would never be able to get out of the circle of poverty that is so characteristic of the least developed countries.

It's taken some time, a lot of arm twisting, networking and pulling of hair, but finally I can say to Gloria, "this is what WE can do. WE GIVE YOU The Kanga Project: a platform to explain your needs, your hopes, your fantastic programs. A platform to show how African women deserve all the respect, we, in the West take for granted. But most importantly a platform that will allow you to raise the necessary funds for the RWDA to progress and maintain the momentum of change you all work so hard towards".

People often ask me, "why do you bother?", "will it make a difference?". My answers are often, "because Gloria asked me and because I can see and imagine the difference". It's that simple.

When a country has next to nothing, it takes next to nothing to make a difference. However, if that next to nothing is worked around the very practical issues of individuals and small groups, it gains a dynamism that infiltrates the very core of what makes a better life. And further more, that next to nothing can be so empowering, that it can lead seemingly powerless communities to challenge the political, social and economic status quo and to make the kind of demands that should be at the heart of any democratic and human centred development programs.

The Kanga Project is all about providing that next to nothing. So, WILL YOU HELP ME? or more to the point, WILL YOU HELP THEM?

But The Kanga Project is also a celebration of African Women's uncrushable hope for the future and their ingenious resourcefulness in the face of seemingly insurmontable problems. Their constant striving at becoming more independent, more skilled, more knowledgeable is only matched by their huge capacity to love, to laugh, to be beautiful, drapped in their vibrant traditional kangas. From the simply wrapped up versions to the tailored ones, kangas are the visual trademark of what it is to be an African woman and it seemed fit to make it our own trademark.

I hope you enjoy exploring our website and I thank you warmly for your support.

Annie O'Connor
Chair of the kanga project