Kisii, a city in western Kenya, is surrounded by soapstone quarries and is well-known both for the quality of its soapstone and the skill of its carvers. Nyamarambe, a rural village near Kisii, is the home of the 150-member Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers Cooperative. This civic-minded group provides work for its members while also giving back to its community.
A source of great pride for the cooperative is the Nyabigena Mixed Day Academy, an elementary school which they opened in January 2007 which now educates 150 students from the proceeds from the sales of soapstone crafts.