Arsenal Forest: Pendo’s story

The Arsenal Forest is transforming lives in Bore, Kenya – as one young local resident can attest.

“I am Pendo Charo, a dressmaker. I could not finish my primary school education – I dropped out because I had been sickly. My dad asked me what was next and I told him I wanted to do tailoring and dressmaking. I could not enroll in a vocational training college because they were quite expensive for us. I went to a private tailor who agreed to train me at a fair price. I stayed with her for one and a half years and I was able to learn everything about tailoring.

“The lady kept me at her shop and she used to pay me, but not enough. I wanted to start up my sewing shop but I did not have the money to buy a sewing machine.

“My dad was among the supervisors at the Arsenal Forest farm, so I started working there. I decided to buy a money box where I could drop the cash I made everyday. The idea behind this was to discipline myself not to touch the money. I remember telling my mum, ‘I won’t sell my destiny for a single meal, neither will we die for skipping a meal.’ After a month of working at the farm I was able to raise the money enough to buy a sewing machine.

“It was hard at first because I had no clients. When the second Arsenal Forest was being cleared, I was among the first to seek work. I earned myself enough to buy nice fabric, and clients started coming. I started sewing at a lower price than other tailors to attract more clients. My business is now blossoming.

“As I tell this story I am self-employed and supporting my family. We do not skip meals because of lack anymore. My father is seeing why I did what I did. My gratitude goes to Arsenal for choosing Bore, Kenya for the Arsenal Forest project in Africa. It has changed my life.”