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Article: The Men of Amani

The Men of Amani

The Men of Amani

             Celebrating our Amani Fathers

At Amani ya Juu, we operate largely by women and for women. But there are many wonderful men working behind the scenes. We'd like to introduce you to several men Amani couldn't run without!

Jackson of Amani Kenya
Jackson came to Amani Kenya in 2008 after learning about the organization through his wife, who was a trainee. He originally worked with Amani Kazi (Swahili for "Peace Work"), a ministry for husbands of Amani women. Jackson is the Grounds and Workshop Supervisor for Amani Kenya. He oversees and completes jobs like tending the gardens, sharpening instruments, and building canvases for Amani art. He has a daughter and son, 16 and 8 years old, respectively. Although he works at Amani Kenya full time, Jackson loves coming home each night to chat with his children about their day.
Pete is a father of 3 (soon to be 4) and husband to Joanna, Amani US Warehouse Director in Chattanooga, TN. He can often be spotted in the warehouse lugging around everything from renovation equipment to babies. Pete's official title at Amani Chattanooga is Strategic Growth Coordinator. He has overseen the renovation of the warehouse, including the beautiful mural on the outside of the building. "Amani ya Juu has a focus on women because in tumultuous circumstances where family units are broken, it is usually the women who end up with the children, are less likely to find work, and are targeted as victims," says Pete. "I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to try and be a blessing to the women of Amani. I feel very satisfied knowing that my small part in Amani is ultimately working towards improving the livelihoods of women and spreading the hope for the eternity that we all have in Jesus."
Bernard has been married 2 years and has a one-year-old son. Bernard is a gardener at Amani Kenya.
He found out about Amani through a friend who worked at Amani Kenya.
"I enjoy playing with my child," says Bernard. "When he calls me 'Dad,' I am so proud. When he grows up, I need to take him to school so he can be a good person and find a job....so he can manage himself."
Ellis teaches the women at Amani Liberia to sew on Mondays. He also sews many of the most complicated pieces, such as clothing with tricky pleats and zippers.
Ellis is a happily married man. He met his wife years ago when he was training to become a tailor, but he waited to pursue a relationship with her. “I first wanted to make something of myself”. He began a small tailoring business, which he still runs part-time. He and his wife have now been married for six years and share a two-and-a-half year old little girl.
Ellis whole-heartedly believes in equipping women with skills for a brighter future. “We need to get more people to work here and encourage them to learn. We have more sisters in the community, and Amani can help them.”
Ellis isn’t just helping to empower this generation; he also has his sights on the next generation of Liberian women, especially his daughter. “Amani can help me help myself to send my child to school.”

Happy Father's Day!

To learn more about Amani ya Juu (or shop!) please visit amaniafrica.org.

 

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