Sussex Academy senior raises $7,347 to support sewing schools for Kenyan girls
Sussex Academy senior Riya Jani hosted a trivia event Oct. 25 at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club to raise funds for Kenya Gather, a nonprofit organization that teaches young Kenyan women employable skills such as sewing to help them become financially independent. To fulfill its mission, the organization has established two sewing schools in impoverished communities in Kenya’s bush country.
Education is not valued in Kenya, with the majority of women having an eighth-grade schooling level or lower. Women are forced into marriage and motherhood as young as 12 years old. Oftentimes, women are abandoned by their husbands and become the sole providers for their children. With no employable skills, these women must turn to selling vegetables, mining for gold, or prostitution just to get food to eat each day.
Alayna Aiken, the fashion teacher at Cape Henlopen High School, founded the nonprofit in 2018 and continues to operate the schools, visiting Kenya during school breaks and in the summer. Kenya Gather provides a free education for these young women to give them and their families a better future. Students attend classes every day to learn how to sew and manage their own businesses. Along with sewing classes, they receive reading and writing instruction to help them gain the abilities needed to pass the national skills test for dressmaking. With that certificate, they can gain employment anywhere in Kenya.
Riya learned about the plight of the young women of the Pokot Tribe through her father, Dr. Uday Jani, a member of the Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. Through Rotary International, the Sunrise Rotary Club supports Kenya Gather. After learning of the struggles these girls endure, Riya committed to making a difference in their lives and organized the fundraiser.
A group of 12 teams, roughly 115 people, participated in the fun and fast-paced trivia event. Creative team names included Kenya Catch Us, No Egrets, Lucky Guesses, and Sew Far Sew Good. In the end, team Mullan It Over came out victorious, and each member received a Kenyan shilling and a linen desk tray embroidered with the Kenya Gather logo. The event also included a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, buffet and cash bar. During an intermission, Aiken gave an inspiring presentation about her organization's mission and work in Kenya.
Touched by the success of the event, and the enthusiasm of donors and attendees, Riya said, “My heart is so full with gratitude and appreciation for everyone who supported this wonderful cause, and the immense kindness and generosity they showed.”
Aiken thanked Riya for her leadership and initiative. “The students are so appreciative of the efforts being made to help them improve their lives. I am so grateful for the support,” said Aiken.
In addition to the trivia and silent auction, Kenya Gather representatives sold logoed T-shirts, wrap skirts and men’s shirts sewn by the Kenyan students, as well as Kenyan earrings and traditional African fabric.
Riya recognizes and thanks the businesses and individuals who donated to the event and the silent auction: Sydney McGinley, New Life Thrift Shop, Doug and Hilda Adams, Village Salon and Spa, SoDel Concepts, Alayna Aiken and Shore View Medical. She is immensely grateful to 50/50 raffle winner Sonia Keswani for donating her winnings back to the organization. She also extends gratitude to the Rehoboth Beach Country Club, especially Spaska Ivanov, assistant general manager, who made the event possible through her continuous encouragement, kindness and support.
For more information or to donate or become a monthly sponsor, go to KenyaGather.org. To learn more about Sunrise Rotary Club, email patcampbellwhite@gmail.com.
