An interview with Peter Owang - Bombolulu Workshops, Kenya
Peter and Safia with his baby son Walter
Here’s an interview from Bombolulu Workshops on my recent visit to Kenya where they had just finished the Sam Ubhi for People Tree collection for AW08. Life is hard in Kenya and just before I arrived the Bombolulu van had been hijacked. Since the down turn of events in January things are holding up but with tourists few and far between life is tough and unemployment is at it’s highest in Mombassa and tourist resorts.
We launched the ‘Support Kenya Now’ campaign to help Bombolulu make up their loss of orders with extra orders from People Tree.
Bracelet from the Sam Ubhi for People Tree range, £20
Peter has been at Bombolulu for more than 15 years now. He has a baby called Walter who is four months old. Peter met Immaculate his wife at Bombolulu. Both Peter and Immaculate suffer from Polio.
Peter Owang – Immaculate and I were seeing each other for 1 year before we got married. She helps me with cooking and laundry and we have a baby boy – it feels good to be a father – my boy will help me. I’m disabled so he can help me get to town and it will make my life easier in many other ways too. It is like a gift for me. At the moment I ask my neighbour who can help me carry my baby to the clinic. I need a maid but I can’t afford it. My monthly income is 8,000 shilings.
Safia - How could life be made easier for disabled people in Kenya?
Peter - It would be good if disabled people weren't taxed as they have other overheads to pay because they need help. Immaculate expects to earn 1000 shillings per week. To get a maid costs 3,000 shiling per month.
The Kenyan government also rely on donations for polio vaccinations which is unreliable.
I don’t think of having Polio as a problem but more of a challenge. I can work, do anything really.
We are talking with the government to develop policy that will help in areas such as transport and home building, to make these more accessible for disabled people.
In Kenya there is a tax on callipers but in England they are sold tax free. We’ve written a lot of proposals to the government to make them understand. We hope that one day soon they will.
Safia – What are you looking forward to at Bombolulu and what are you doing?
Peter – We have a basketball team and we want to start an internet project to raise some money for players and to fix wheelchairs. We plan to have a football team next at Bombolulu – so we want to buy a footballs etc. I am a PE educator I would love to come to London to tell people about the effects of disability and HIV and how it effects us too.
Mr Hosayo from Bombolulu died recently from HIV– poor women come to us at Bombolulu as we are relatively well off. Mr Hosayo thought that he was safe at Bombolulu but one lady who was HIV positive kept coming. Mr Hosayo died after they were together 2-3 years and he will be buried tomorrow. Educating and motivating other disabled people that they shouldn’t be used or take anything that comes along is very important. I run weekly meetings at Bombolulu that are held every Friday to educate the producers about HIV and AIDs.
Safia - What parts of your work at Bombolulu do you enjoy the most?
Peter - I am very creative that’s one reason why I’m involved in product development it is challenging for me and I enjoy it!
Peter, Immaculate with their son Walter outside their house at Bombolulu Workshops, Kenya.
Have a look at our Sam Ubhi for People Tree collection, made by hand at Bombolulu Workshops!
Comments
Dear Safia,
it's great to be able to comment! I think that you run an amazing company and I have featured People Tree (PT) on my blog (http://shopfair.blogspot.com) several times.
I read the Daily Mail article and was sorry to hear that you had a rough financial year in 2007 but it's good to hear that Jane Shepherdson is on your board. "She is encouraging Safia to move away from the more homespun, ethnic pieces and towards more tailored, smarter clothes that can be worn in the office" (quote from the Daily Mail)
I wholeheartedly agree with this. I think the market for "urban" looking clothes is much bigger than for "ethnic" designs. What I personally would love to see/buy is a shirt and/or scarf made with the wonderful handwoven plaid fabric that was used in the People Tree summer collection. I think plaid will still be "hot" next year; just look at Marc Jacobs' Spring Collection 2009 on www.style.com
Posted by: Fair shopping fairy at September 12, 2008 12:26 AM
I am British but living in America. I have a Fair Trade business selling arts and crafts but have always followed People Tree for Safia's Blog (inspiration), and for ideas. I agree with the refocus on the more urban, classic style of clothing. That is something that will keep Fair Trade clothing in style and demand over time. We are still working on that over here stateside!
Keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks
Posted by: Susie Dolphin at October 23, 2008 03:36 AM