It’s remarkable, the lengths a mother will go to for her children. The sacrifices, the long days, the opportunities passed up so that those she loves might have a few more. For Mama Rose, much of her life has been spent doing just that. Education in Kenya is expensive, yet she was determined to see her children through school. Through years of hard work, she managed to put each of them through high school, with some continuing on to college courses.
For years, Mama Rose worked wherever she could, cleaning houses, making soaps for schools, and selling handmade bags. Her days were spent earning what she could to support those depending on her. After a full week of work, a day off would have been a welcome opportunity to rest. But Mama Rose had other plans. On evenings and whatever days she could spare, she volunteered at She Has A Name, a Christian nonprofit working to protect vulnerable girls in Kenya from poverty-based sex trafficking. She cooked, cleaned, prayed for the girls, and helped wherever she was needed. Why? She simply believed in what SHAN was doing and loved the girls who were being cared for.
During an extended visit to Kenya, a member of the SHAN team had the opportunity to sit down with Mama Rose and hear more about her life. Her passion for the girls and her commitment to the ministry were unmistakable. Here was a woman already working long hours to provide for her own family, choosing to spend what little free time she had caring for someone else’s children. SHAN eventually invited her to join the staff as a house mother, giving her an opportunity to earn a living doing something she had already been giving her time to freely.
Mama Rose now helps care for the girls who stay at the SHAN home more consistently, teaching practical life skills, encouraging their education, and helping them navigate difficult family relationships. Mama Rose offers something that isn’t easily measured by a job description: the steady presence of someone who genuinely cares. Mama Rose often says, “I will love these girls as if they are my own girls.”
Today, Mama Rose continues making handmade bags from her home in Kenya. Her love for bright colors is evident in the vibrant fabrics and patterns she chooses. What began as one of several ways to support her children has grown into an opportunity for people far beyond her community to participate in her work. SHAN now offers her handmade bags for purchase, with proceeds supporting Mama Rose.
It’s easy to look at a bag and see only a bag. Fabric, thread, a colorful pattern, something useful to carry our belongings. But behind these bags is a mother who worked tirelessly to educate her children, a grandmother still investing in the next generation, and a woman whose faith and generosity have made room for young women who aren’t her own.
For those who would like to be part of her story, Mama Rose’s handmade bags are available through SHAN, and donations to She Has A Name help continue the work she has come to love.
