Women of the Masaai Tribe, KenyaIn 2001, most of Kenya was hit hard by a prolonged drought. It forced the men of the Masaai tribe to take their cattle, the main source of income, far away from their temporary settlements in search of water and pastures. This created a tremendous hardship for the women and children left behind, who had little to support themselves.
Wanting to help, Philip and Katy Leakey created a drought-resistant and regular source of fair trade income for the women. They teach them to create jewelry from the chopped and dried stems of a Kenyan grass. They assemble kits containing everything needed to make jewelry-the grass beads, elastic, and tools-and bring them to the Masaai settlements.
Zulugrass BraceletThe women sit together under the trees and string the beads into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Though the process fits the traditional Masaai lifestyle, the "Zulugrass" jewelry is contemporary and colorful, designed to accessorize any wardrobe from sporty to elegant.
Repurposing the grass into beautiful jewelry provides an average of $100 a month for each of the 1400 women involved in this remarkable enterprise, yet another way fair trade products are kind to the earth and its people.
Stephanie King
Fair Trade Designs
