Becki for Samburu Mamas

Hi All.

I have a secret, that many of you don’t know about me. I obsessively make doll clothes. When I was 8, my grandmother helped me make my own Halloween costume. When I was 16, I got my first sewing machine.  I had visions of becoming a fashion designer and made my own clothes in high school.  Fast forward a few years. I still love fashion. I even played a fashion receptionist on TV.  I have a daughter. She likes dolls. I make the doll’s clothes. Sometimes I watch Project  Runway  while I do it and pretend I’m a designer. When I’m not on set you can either find me at my sewing machine or wandering the fashion district looking for buttons. Stay with me here. 

Along the way I’ve met some pretty amazing people, one of whom asked me if I would make a few doll outfits for a charity she works with. It’s called the Samburu Trust.  She is traveling to Kenya June 17, and with another glorious maker mom will teach the women of the Samburu tribe the art of doll making. This is part of an ongoing effort to support and empower the Samburu people to sustain their families and give them freedom to live the life they choose.  All the money from the dolls they make and sell will go back to the mamas to feed their families. 

  After gazing at  pictures of the women and children for weeks while I designed the clothes, I began to ask more questions. I studied their culture. The ways they connect.  The mamas of the Samburu  are a tight knit group, a sisterhood that relies on each other and hold an incredible bond. It is in this spirit, of women lifting each other up to help their communities, that I’ve become so personally connected to this cause. Since moving back to NYC I’ve been so blessed to have a village of people that inspire me to always ask, “how can I help?” As a mother, maker, sister, daughter, creator, the more I’ve learned about the philosophies and ways of the Samburu people, the more I know we can learn from them, as well as help them.

I am raising funds to sponsor the doll making workshop. The women will need transport to the workshop, food, and a small stipend to support their family.

Here’s where it all began... I made a few doll outfits for this doll, an example of what the mamas will be learning to make. 


I kept going.... and learning....


Friends started to help. My dear friend Jeet (who happens to be a mom and philanthropist and bag designer) gave me her scrap leather and I started making the scraps into doll slippers...My best friend Vedette came over just to show me how to make button holes on my sewing machine.  


I asked more about the people, and the charity. I couldn’t get it off my mind that there was more that could be done...


I think of women in my life, that inspire with their strength and courage and knew it was time to do more for these mamas. 

 



Will you help? Even one dollar matters. It truly does. I thank you in advance for even reading this far. Regardless of whether you donate,  would you pass this along? That is helping too. We all can help. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. 

Love, 

Becki
maker of doll clothes
lover of mamas
ready for change, no matter how small
LET'S DO THIS