Sadia Crodana

We met Sadia Crodana in July 2007.

Sadia Crodana is one of about 150 handicapped artisans who work at Bombolulu, a sheltered workshop in Mombasa, Kenya. Most of them live in housing at the Bombolulu compound with their families. Bombolulu provides meaningful work, housing, a medical clinic, a nursery school and other benefits for artisans.

Bombolulu also runs a woodcarving workshop, a textile workshop, a small plant propagation facility and a leather workshop to provide employment and make products to sell. Bombolulu markets locally and through fair trade channels like Baksheesh in 17 countries. Proceeds from sales cover the cost of operations, so the organization does not rely on charity for its crafts work.

In addition, Bombolulu runs a mobility aid workshop. Starting with soft steel tubing and bicycle parts, this workshop makes several models of wheel chairs. The specialty is a tricycle that is ideally suited for the rough terrain of rural Kenya, with a hand-operated crank, bicycle wheels and a 100-pound hauling capacity. Individuals and groups donate the funds needed to make them, so needy handicapped people in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda can receive these tricycles free. Any bike shop can fix them when they need repairs.

Baksheesh markets a number of jewelry items and ornaments made at Bombolulu. Several of them, like the girlfriends pin, are made of recycled soda cans. Others are made of aluminum pulltabs, brass and other metals.

Thanks to Bombolulu, many artisans like Sadia can earn a living with dignity.

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