About Us

Batsiranai Mothers Group, located in a poor, highly populated township in Harare, Zimbabwe, is a women’s artisan group that creates embroidered and painted fair trade handicrafts for the international market. The members of Batsiranai are mothers of special needs children. In Zimbabwe, children with disabilities and their families are often shunned not only by society, but by their extended families as well. This social isolation and the lack of community often cause the families to spiral into extreme poverty.

Batsiranai began in 1998 when fourteen mothers of disabled children formed a support group. Their talent for embroidery inspired them to begin making handicrafts to provide an income for their families. They named their group “Batsiranai” which means “helping each other” in Shona, the local language. When the handicraft project begun, these families were underfed and hungry, now the Batsiranai motto is.... “Batsiranai has made us, FAT AND FATTER!"

Their drive and determination for success brought them to the attention of Lynn Poole, an American from San Francisco living in Zimbabwe. Since 2001, Lynn has been their full time volunteer and business mentor. In June 2009, Lynn was the recipient of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s “Unsung Heroes Award” for her steadfast commitment to the families of Batsiranai.

During the last 5 years Batsiranai expanded and purchased 2 houses that are used for their daycare, Physical Therapy, workrooms, office, and housing for 3 families. The centre provides hot meals and a vegetable garden for the members and children working there.

Sales of Batsiranai products have allowed the group to expand to its current size of 100 members. It is self-managed by a committee of seven elected members. The group makes decisions as a team and is proud of their level of cooperation.

In Zimbabwe, Batsiranai is registered with the government through the Zimbabwe Parents of Disabled Children Association (ZPDCA) with a registration number of WO7190. Batsiranai is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), in addition to nonprofit status under the umbrella of One World Children’s Fund of San Francisco, California.

Batsiranai is indebted to the support of Oxfam Shop Australia, Ten Thousand Villages (USA), Rokpa Trust of Zimbabwe and Global Exchange Store and to the many volunteers and friends of Batsirnai who have given their time and hearts generously to the Batsiranai mothers.