Nashipai : (nai-she-pie)
/n/ ever happy
It all started in Kenya in the summer of 2019. It was a work trip for Nashipai founder Jenny Behrens—to be a team leader for high school students from Minnesota on a cultural immersion program. But after just a few days, while helping to build part of a new health clinic in Entonent, Jenny realized just how special the women in the Maasai community are. She made a very close connection with Jenipher, who is now the leader of the women's cooperative in Kenya. They met right away on the trip and got to know one another on an adventurous walk to the nearby church. Jenipher said it was a quick walk up the hill, which, in the end, turned out to be an hour-long hike uphill. The two laughed so hard as sweat poured down their faces and that is when and where the friendship began. Jenipher named Jenny the Maasai word for “ever happy” (Nashipai)—and founder Jenny felt “ever happy” in the village.
During the farewell party the Maasai women asked Jenny, under the oldest acacia tree in the village, if she would be able to support them in selling their jewelry abroad. Without hesitation Jenny said yes, and that is when the journey to start Nashipai began. Nashipai was founded as an opportunity to provide fair wages to the Maasai women and has evolved to partnerning with artisans in Nairobi and now India.
The Women You’re Supporting
mercy muchai
Creative director in Nairobi
Jenipher
President of the Nashipai Women’s Cooperative in Entonent
kombola
Vice President of the Nashipai Women’s Cooperative in Entonent
Lucy
sindei
yantet
jane
Susan
elizabeth
namunyak matasha
Alice
Charlotte
ramsha
tarannum
ameena
There is purpose behind Nashipai’s jewelry and accessories. With every purchase you make, you are helping to solve important problems and provide opportunities.
For each piece of jewelry made the women artisans earn three to four times the base hourly wage in their country and are able to invest their earnings as they see fit back into their family and community. With our focus on the women, they can spur economic progress within their community. According to the UN, when women work, they invest 90% of their income back into their families, compared with 35% for men.
Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, and/or waste management. It affects an estimated 500 million people worldwide. Research shows that 65% of menstruators in Kenya and 88% of menstruators in India are unable to afford proper menstrual products. Nashipai will buy Days for Girls Kits (reusable menstrual products) to be donated to menstruators in Kenya and India with 3% of all online sales. Each kit lasts approximately three years.
