Located
in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya, Kazuri began
hiring needy women, especially single mothers, who
had no other source of income. Today it is a large
factory but still acts as a social gathering place
where the convivial hum of voices can be heard. Unemployment
is so high in Kenya that one jobholder often ends
up providing for an “extended family”
of 20 or more.
Kazuri, the Swahili word for “small and beautiful”
produces a number of ceramic goods but it was the
beautiful beads, painstakingly formed, fired and painted
by hand from authentic clay from the Mt. Kenya area,
that caught the attention Debra and Samuel Aaron.
Traveling to the area through funding by a generous
donation by Luverne and Bonnie Severson, the Founders
of The Blessing Project ™ were specifically
looking for projects like this one that would meet
the criteria to be included in The Blessing Project™.
Kazuri is a member of the Fair Trade Act and also
provides exceptional training and the opportunity
to apply skills to produce these unique and beautiful
beads. During their visit the Aaron’s learned
that the company has now extended their workplace
to women who have left prostitution and served prison
terms and seek an opportunity to walk a new path.
The Kazuri beads are a popular feature on the three-dimensional
art cards and can also be found in interesting combinations
in the medium and large shadowboxes.
As one of our customers shared her cat, Rainy, is
attracted to the art as it seems to hold the essence
of the many hands from around the globe that contribute
either to the separate pieces as they are made as
well as the hands of the North American Light Workers,
the women whose lives are full of joy and purpose
in helping their sisters across the globe.
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