The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

At 18, Nolmekigi Lengilili was married into a poor family. Her only income came from their five goats. Now 25, this Samburu woman has known poverty, lack of security and hardship for most of her life in the Northern Kenya Rangelands.

In 2006, NRT Trading began working in the West Gate Conservancy to promote enterprise development. Nolmekigi was among the first beneficiaries of NRT Trading.

Nolmekigi participated in training and received a micro-credit loan and technical assistance to improve and promote her handcrafted products. She worked hard to build her small enterprise, and now Nolmekigi is one of the most successful women in the NRT Trading program.

Her crafts are sold around the world, enabling Nolmekigi to feed her family and send her children to school. She has repaid her loan to NRT Trading and is looking to expand her business.

Nolmekigi and her family have a brighter future ahead, thanks to opportunities created through her community's engagement in conservation. They now own 25 goats; generate a steady income; and enjoy access to security, education, and health care.

Today, NRT Trading works with 59 women’s groups across six NRT community conservancies. So far, more than 700 women have developed  income-generating businesses.

The Nature Conservancy continues to work with NRT to increase the scale and impact of this important work across the Northern Kenya Rangelands.