Women In The Mara Getting Digital Skills Training

Maasai women in the Mara are now benefitting from a digital training following a deal with local distiller, African Original.

The company leverages on the beading skills from these women to create a unique cap for its latest product, the Mara gin. The women get digital training to enable them sell their beading skills online and also be financially responsible with earnings they get from their skills.

The CEO and founder of African Originals, Alexandre Chappatte speaks of the support to the local opportunity as something the company plans to hold onto for the future and uplift the local community. She says that the company has also invested in equiping the locals with digital skills as well so that they may acquire other skills that will help them grow their crafting skills.

“Community is a fundamental piece that African Originals wants to positively improve and how we are doing it depends on the product line. It is something that we have been doing for long with our previous products as well. We have always involved the community in the labels, the way that we brand, etc,” she said.

“With the Mara Edition Gin, we have involved the Maasai community to help to bead the tops of the drink. We also go an extra step to build digital skills for them so that they have an opportunity to sell beyond just what they do with African Originals,” she added.

African Originals is also equipping the community with financial education so that they may excel in their businesses and personal lives as well.

The beverage pays homage to the rich heritage and natural splendor of Kenya’s Northern Mara region by using the local herbs as ingredients and local art to craft its artistic packaging. With the launch of the Mara Edition Gin, African Originals is uplifting the local cratfswomen of the Maasai Community by enabling them to be responsible for the packaging of the drink, making it distinctively African.