Maisha was born in the heart of KIBERA
Something was worrying Domitila Ayot: Day by day she witnessed how in her town, Kibera, many adult and adolescent women became pregnant with little to no support, sometimes even against their will, and in conditions of extreme poverty.
Something else alarmed her: the number of women who had to perform clandestine abortions, due to the lack of resources they had to support their children.
2009
"Mama Domitila" decided to contribute with what little she had. She started cutting out papers with her phone number and posted them throughout Kibera, hoping that women in need of a shoulder to lean on could turn to her. This is how Edel Quinn Center was born, which was destinated to pregnancy crisis and accompaniment of women.
In 2015, a small group of Chilean volunteers from a low-income hospital in Kenya came across this small, but great, local initiative; which had become a place of light and life for women involved in very adverse environments. They were also very moved by the reality of thousands of African women who could not welcome their children in a dignified way. They asked themselves, how can we give them real support?
2015
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After this experience, they decided to commit to these women and become a true support network. Thus, in partnership with the Edel Quinn Center, Maisha was created.
Maisha, which in Swahili means LIFE, shared the dream of welcoming and supporting mothers and their children in Kibera.
2016
2017
In 2017, Maisha was legally constituted in Chile as an organization, and became a non-profit organization with abroad - operations.
2018
The team continued to grow: In 2018, the first programs were implemented in Kenya.
Julián Álvarez - Fernanda Almarza - Sebastián Frías - Antonia Villablanca - Wenceslao Zegers
2019
The CBO position (Community Based Organization) was adopted in Kenya, and new responsibilities were assumed in field. Part of our team and board of directors traveled to Kenya to inaugurate the new mother-shelter, in conjunction with the organization África Digna.
2020
In 2020, the development of our 4 programs were consolidated in Kenya: housing, health, sexual education and sustainability.
2021
New challenges were faced regarding the expansion of the organization: the first pilot project of sexual and affective education was completed in Chile.
2022
The Maisha team (both in Chile and Kenya) professionalizes to achieve a 2023 full of challenges.
The Maisha Market is legally constituted as a solidarity store.
2023
The year began with a new Board of Directors: new faces, new ideas and new learning opportunities.
Maisha must continue to grow, along with the dream of Maisha Chile, its own home and hiring programs.