Just in time for Mother’s Day, Oliver’s Grandmothers for Africa are exhibiting for sale exotic handmade ceramic Kazuri jewellery. Come to Medici’s Gelateria Friday, May 4th between 10 am and 4 pm to see what Kenyan women working in a fair trade, healthy workplace have created. You can enjoy this unique opportunity to shop with a conscience, go home with something truly beautiful and know that all proceeds from the sales are donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers’ Campaign to support African grandmothers raising children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. It is the perfect time to join with friends, perhaps have a latte or two and see a unique jewellery collection.
Two Canadian grandmothers, Peggy Edwards and Margaret Thompson, had the idea to form a not-for-profit company, Kazuri Jewellery: The Grandmother Connection, to import and sell Kenyan Kazuri jewellery for fundraisers. Since the jewellery is sold by volunteers there are no up front costs leaving more proceeds for grandmothers in Africa.
It was back in 1975 when Lady Susan Wood set up a fledging business making beads in a small shed in her back garden in Kenya. She started by hiring two disadvantaged women, and quickly realized that there were many more women who were in need of jobs. Today Kazuri, (the Swahili word for ‘small and beautiful’)
employs over 300 women who produce a wide range of hand-made, hand-painted ceramic jewellery. Their work shines with a kaleidoscope of African colours and Kenyan art. If you want a sneak preview try visiting www.kazuri.com
There are over 15 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. Most are being raised by their grandmothers who bury their own children, then turn around to raise their grandchildren, usually in situations of extreme poverty. Grassroots projects are the focus of the Stephen Lewis Foundation providing resources to small, front-line groups that make tremendously effective use of comparatively small amounts of money. Since 2003 more than 300 community based projects in 15 African countries have been funded and have helped grandmothers become self sustaining. Most important of all is the hope and dignity restored to their lives.
The Oliver Grandmothers love the fun involved in efforts like the Kazuri Jewellery sale. They also know very well that if one African grandmother’s life is changed, a whole family is uplifted. How’s that for value added benefits?!
Story and picture from Marion Boyd