The Chloe Stewart Collective is grounded in the belief that economic empowerment is inseparable from mental well-being and access to education. In addition to hand-embroidery, the Collective runs the following programmes.
Our Programmes
Counselling with Esther
Esther Mwikali is a trauma counsellor and mental health trainer, passionate about social transformation and community development. Esther meets with the women from the Collective once a month, offering group sessions and 1:1 sessions.
Each group session explores a variety of mental health issues, with the group focusing on the importance of trust and team building. Esther has also introduced weekly catchball sessions with the women to help them gain confidence and develop crucial personal social ties within the group. Catchball also provided the girls with an outlook on creating sustainable, healthy ways to cope with stress and promote self-care.
Since working with Esther, the women from the Collective have grown massively in confidence and have designed their 2026 programme around continuing to learn how to deal with everyday challenges and managing stress levels.
“Before joining the Chloe Stewart Collective, I didn’t know how to deal with the stress and anxiety I was dealing with every day. I used to just shove it down and ignore it, but since working with Esther, I have learnt healthy and sustainable ways to cope with stress. Now I am happy and stress-free ”
English with Lulu
Each week, Lulu teaches English to the women. The lessons' topics are guided by what the women are most interested in learning.
Focusing on practical, real-life situations they’ve experienced or may encounter—times when a stronger grasp of the English language can be hugely beneficial.
The sessions cover grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary, always with the overarching goal of building confidence and fluency.
Now, the women from the Collective can confidently converse with Chloe about embroidery tasks, the appropriate stitch for the project, and how to improve their skills.
“I have loved using my knowledge from English lessons to design the end-of-year tee shirts for Chloe - something I was unable to do before the lessons”
Health with Dr Wilson
The women have been attending regular health education sessions designed to support their mental and physical well-being. The programme began with foundational lessons on hygiene, using this as a springboard into menstrual hygiene and a broader series on sexual and reproductive health. These sessions covered female and male anatomy, the menstrual cycle, and common gynaecological problems.
In 2026, the programme will build on the strong foundations developed last year by deepening the women’s understanding of communicable diseases, with a particular focus on tuberculosis, malaria, and yellow fever. Sessions will explore causes, transmission, prevention, early symptoms, and the importance of timely treatment, with an emphasis on practical, locally relevant strategies for protecting individual and community health.
“The Healthcare lessons have given me the opportunity to learn about the different forms of contraception. I have been able to advocate for myself and get myself onto the correct form of contraception - something I couldn’t do before joining the Chloe Stewart Collective”
Children’s Education
At the Chloe Stewart Collective, social difference is at the heart of our mission. Our work focuses on supporting women in Kayole, Nairobi, who face barriers to employment by developing hand-embroidery skills and techniques.
For many of the women we work with in Kayole, education is one of the vital elements to their children’s future - but it is also one of the hardest things to access. With many families living on less than $1 a day, the cost of school fees, uniforms, and basic learning materials can place education out of reach, with school fees averaging $110 per child per term. Funds raised through this fundraiser will go directly towards supporting the education of the women’s children, helping to remove these financial barriers. By easing this burden, we aim to ensure that children can attend school consistently, learn in a safe and supportive environment, and build the foundations for a more secure and independent future.
We are so grateful for all the support you've already given. Damarius, Faith and Winnie are so grateful - your donations will contribute to their children’s school fees for the rest of 2026, easing huge financial pressure and ensuring uninterrupted education. Esther will use her allocation to enrol in a course to expand her vocational skills - opening up new opportunities for her. We are endlessly thankful for your continued support of the Chloe Stewart Collective - you are creating real, lasting impact.