The United States uses an excessive amount of plastic bags every year that end up in a landfill and then the ocean causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. We need to make some drastic changes in our plastic bag usage in order to reduce the amount of plastics that are not biodegradable.
According to facts compiled by the Center for Biological Diversity
Some big box stores were attempting to solve this problem by charging for bags and then making what were supposed to be reusable plastic bags that are more heavy duty than the regular single use plastic bags. The problem is they are still plastic bags. A heavy duty bag made with the same material as a single-use plastic bag but double the weight has double the environmental impact, unless it is reused almost 2 dozen times They still get disposed of and still end up in the landfill.
Most people I’ve talked to about those bags do not reuse them for shopping but usually use for trash so the idea that people are reusing them several times isn’t working.
In 2017 Kenya banned the use of single use plastic bags. Kenya enacted its plastic ban on July 28, 2017, prohibiting the use, manufacture, or importation of plastic bags. Violators of the band can be imprisoned up to four years, or a fine of between approximately $20,000 and $40,000.
They replaced them with cloth bags that come in many sizes and are sturdy and reusable. There is a small fee for them like costs of our reusable plastic bags currently at many stores. If the US would adopt a policy to eliminate these single use plastic bags and replace them with cloth bags, we could reduce the amount of plastic bags in landfills significantly.
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The Turkana line of products is named for the Tribe who makes them and where the materials come from. The ladies of Baskets and Beads Kenya that live in the Kipsongo slum in Kitale are from the Lodwar area of Kenya. You can see on the below map the distance from Nairobi the capital where we fly into and Kitale where the ladies live now and Lodwar where their tribe is from. The Lodwar area has a hot desert climate and has very little rainfall throughout the year.
The ladies learned how to make these baskets starting at a young age, many as young as 5 years old. They get the papyrus reed grasses that grow naturally in Lodwar and weave them into different shape baskets, trivets, mats, brooms and other household products. Most of the products were made to use primarily in the home. They eventually found out that tourists in the area were interested in the products and started making them to sell.
These brooms are a household staple in any Kenyan home and the best broom for getting up all kinds of dirt and debris. They are made for primary use in mud huts which is why they get things up so well on any surface. The difference between these brooms and synthetic brooms you get in the store in the US is that the synthetic brooms get much of the debris caught in the bristles. Straw brooms end up bending and become ineffective in a short amount of time. The Turkana brooms outlast these other brooms. They are hand brooms and could be adapted to use with a stick inserted in the middle but we thing they work best by hand.
We use these brooms in our warehouse and at home to get up pet hair and other dirt and debris and on the patio. I've had my broom for 5 years and it's still going strong.
The grasses come in a bundle on a bus from Lodwar. They come in long strands and the ladies take the strands and start to weave them into the product they are making. The strands can be dyed similar to the tie dye process to get colorful embellishments on each product. Typically they do colors such as brown, pink, green, blue and yellow. Gloria below is making the bottom part of a basket.
This is the finished product and took 1 day to make. It's a one of a kind and available in the online store now, check it out here. You can see the yellow embellishment on the basket from the tie dye process. This basket measures approximately 9" across and approximately 3' deep and has sturdy handles.
We currently have an array of products and more styles of the products were brought back from Kenya on our last trip such as smaller baskets and new colors of trivets.
Check out the online store for these amazing products.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
]]>On the most recent trip to Kenya we made new aprons from fabrics we chose in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi. Eastleigh is what I call the fabric district. There are several buildings full of individual shops of fabric. Leila and I spent several hours just looking at the different fabrics and making notes about what we would choose for aprons, pillows and dresses.
We were excited to find a fabric we had previously sold out of for both aprons and pillows. You can see that fabric in the photo on the left. It's the top middle piece with the blue leaves. This is rare as usually you only get one chance at the fabrics that are there as they do not do another run of the fabrics. In the future we may consider having our own fabrics printed. Most of the fabric is printed in Nigeria. It comes in 6 yard pieces. 1 piece will do a long dress, several aprons, several pillows or a couple of skirts.
The tailoring group works in a team. There are those who cut, sew, iron etc. They use foot pedal sewing machines as there is limited access to electricity in the slum. We are working to get the ladies a permanent place to work and have a solution that we are working behind the scenes.
The fabric is cut, then sewn and then pressed. The aprons are made from kitenge prints in beautiful colors. They are machine washable. Each apron includes 2 large pockets, a tie at the neck and waist and is lined. One size fits most. To see the prints shown below and many more options click here to visit the online store or stop by Fair Trade Long Beach at 4105 N Bellflower Long Beach CA or better yet make an appointment for in person or video chat from our Santa Ana location to see these and more items made by the ladies of Baskets and Beads.
]]>As I am writing this on Easter weekend, I think about how many different ways the Bible talks about forgiveness and forgiving. Here are a few of the dozens of verses that talk about forgiveness. Jesus taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” (Mt 6:14). Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, and Jesus replied, “Seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22), a number to be taken symbolically, not literally, for the never-ending way that we ought to forgive.
Most people when they do something wrong to someone else don’t do it intentionally. I’ve done things or said things that have been hurtful to other people in my life, we all have. I don’t make mistakes on purpose or do things intentionally to hurt people.
However, there are those that do and I’m sure you’ve had those happen to you. I certainly have.
If you know anything about me, I have a laundry list of people who I had to forgive in my past. This month in 1973 my mother died of alcoholism when I was a young girl. Growing up in that chaos set my life on a bad trajectory that took many years to unravel. I made a bunch of stupid choices that got me into bad situations. I made a lot of bad choices in relationships, one that almost ended my life.
When I was doing the work to let go of the resentment that I had against so many, there was one person at the top of my list. I was working with someone who had me split the resentments up in 3 columns. Basically, something like - will easily release the resentment, challenging to release the resentment and no way in a million years will I EVER under any circumstances, release the resentment and forgive.
There was one person at the top of that never will I ever list. It was a person I thought I would marry but instead he left me for someone else, cut me out of the business we had and was extremely abusive and mean on his way out of the relationship. I had forgotten how bad it really was until I reread my journals recently from almost 20 years ago. It nearly destroyed me. As I was reading through everything he put me through, I felt like I was reading a story about someone else’s life. I caught myself getting upset and frustrated with the person I was reading about. I had to catch myself and realize it was once me!
I had put up the initial money to invest in and get the business started. I took a loan, and it was a significant amount for me, a retiring military veteran. No one invests in a business simply to get paid back. Thankfully the loan was paid back, and I worked the business with him around my full time job which was paying many of the household bills and expenses.
The business started to take off. Then he left me, cleaned out the bank account, locked me out of all the business accounts and moved on with someone else I later found out he had been seeing for months behind my back. There’s a lot deeper egregious things he did to me during the next 2 years that I’m not going to share about but as I reread it, I was so thankful I got beyond that.
I could have taken him to court regarding the business. The business was half mine, but he was the kind of person who lived for going to court and dragging others through the court system. I watched him do this to other people. I was not in the state of mind to go there and decided for my own mental health and well-being to let it go. Yes, I let go of tens of thousands of dollars, but money isn’t worth trading for peace and serenity. I didn’t realize how much on fragile ground I was at that time. This breakup opened a floodgate of emotions of all the things I never dealt with, from my upbringing to other things in my life. His treatment of me made the pain a lot worse. Yes, I allowed it, but he was manipulating me, and I was in too much pain to realize it.
In my mindset today I was thinking why didn’t “she” get a grip on reality? What was wrong with her? Why didn’t she stand up for herself more? Yes “her” that other person I was reading about that I did not know. I had to have some compassion for myself, I was dealing with a lot. When you stuff a lifetime of chronic trauma that goes all the way back to your childhood and then it all comes out at once, you must have some grace, patience, and forgiveness for yourself.
If you know anyone going through something like this and wonder why they don’t just get over it, have some compassion for them. It’s not that easy. If they are working on it and taking some consistent steps to move forward, they will get there. I’m living proof of that!
My hope for anyone going through something or even attempting to ignore those things is that they face them head on. Otherwise, it will poison your life. You can’t drag the past into your present and think it will be ok. I managed to muck up a lot of my life and am thankful I recovered from the trauma and pain.
After I read the journals, I told my kids I’m sorry (again). I made amends to them back when I was writing these journals and working on releasing the pain and getting beyond the trauma. They were compassionate towards me. I told them how I wished I had dealt with it before I had kids, so they didn’t have to experience that person I was for a time. I understand everything happens in its own time. However, if I could change something it would be that.
I had to make amends to my mother and father during that forgiveness process. Why might you wonder? Because I held resentment towards both for my entire adult life. My mother was abusive and mean to me. She put me down and did destructive things. She left me believing I was a loser and no good. She constantly told me I was no good. I believed it for many years. Now I know that is untrue.
My father never parented me, never encouraged me, and never supported me. He didn’t protect me or teach me anything about what I needed to know to navigate the world. I never heard “I love you” from either parent. One of my friends told me she likes the way I always tell my kids “Love you” when I get off the phone or when they are leaving after spending time together. I told her I used to be friends with a girl at school and stayed at her house often. They would always say “love you” to each other. I loved spending time with them, they were what I considered a real family and I loved being part of it. I remember thinking when I had kids one day, I would do that in my family. People need to know they are loved not only by actions but also by words.
I felt for many years I was unlovable. Now I love myself first and foremost. That way others can love me too. You must love yourself first. Mat 27:39 says to love your neighbor as yourself (after first loving God V37-38). You cannot give love to anyone if you do not have it for yourself. If you look in the mirror and don’t love the person looking back at you, you must start there first and work on loving that person in the mirror.
Today I am grateful for my peace of mind and the healing that has occurred to get me to the place of having that peace.
I hope this has given you a perspective of the importance of forgiveness. It’s not for the other person, it’s for you. It will set you free from the poison of resentment. I’ve heard it said that resentment is the poison we take that we think kills other people, but it really kills our spirit. That is why forgiveness is such an important concept.
Oh, and you might be wondering if I forgave and made amends to the number one person on my resentment list. I did in fact make amends to him. It took about 15 minutes. He sat there with a blank look on his face and looked bored. When I was finished, he said “are you done?” I said yes and got up and left. I felt free of the bondage of unforgiveness, and I realized that forgiveness was not for him, it was for me, and it set me free. I haven’t seen him years but read that he ended up in federal prison. For a brief moment I felt vindication, then compassion and hope he can or has found peace from his own struggles. He had some horrific things happen to him as a child which I am certain contributed to the way he had been when I knew him. My prayer for him is that he finds God’s peace and comfort for his own struggles. This level of forgiveness is only available from God.
I will add one final thing. Forgiveness doesn't mean you have to have that person back in your life. There are those who have done horrible things to us and to have them back in our lives would not be safe or good. Forgiveness is for you to let go of it from yourself.
Forgiveness will set you free. Happy Easter.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
]]>a person who has overcome or defeated an adversary; conqueror. a winner in any struggle or contest. For me it is more powerful to be a victor over something vs to survive it. I am a winner vs merely existing.
Recently I came across my journals from the most painful time in my life even more painful than the death of my mom when I was 12 and my dad when I was 22. With my mom's death I was so used to numbing my feelings from growing up as the child of alcoholics that I cried when I first learned of her death and then never cried about it again or any of the affects her alcoholism did to me until this time in 2005 when I really hit bottom.
I cried more at my dad's death than I did my mothers but I think it had more to do with now I was really alone. I had not had communication with my sister at that point for 7 years. That was my dad's doing and is a story for another time.
I felt the nudge of the whisper which I call the Holy Spirit to read these journals all the way through. I had come across them many times before and read something here and then but never read them through again. I shared about this on Swahili Sunday here:
In the video I shared a couple of tools to use to turn your thoughts around and help to heal traumas in your life. When I was going through my recovery process of a lifetime of chronic trauma I was getting counseling and going to various 12 step groups for being someone affected by the alcoholism of a family member. Some things cannot be handled without professional help. During this time I was not sleeping, I could not stop crying, I was a mess. I did not do this by myself and I don't suggest you do. It's important to get the right help that will give you some form of progress in a positive direction.
These tools were significant in helping with my recovery towards the peace of mind I have today. One thing I did was the Zig Ziglar Life Changing Procedure (email me for a copy or google it). As I mentioned in the video I heard Zig Ziglar speak in 2005. I thought it was after I started doing to work to recover but as I'm writing this I realize it was before then. I had purchased some of his CD's and listened to them. Inside was a card with the Life Changing Procedure on it. I didn't do anything with it until after August 2005. I don't remember when I did it but I remember thinking - Ha! this will never work, I'm going to do it to prove it won't work.
I have to laugh at myself now for thinking that but glad I did it because it did work. Even thought as I said it, I didn't believe it in my mind, every part of my being heard it and it started to do the work to change the trajectory of my thoughts. I had been told all my life I was a loser, not good and my parents never told me they loved me. I had to learn how to love myself first before I could be loving to anyone else. Give it a go and let me know the results.
Another thing I came across in my journal was something I read maybe in one of Zig's books or an article, I'm not sure but it's powerful as well. If you are still harboring resentment or anger from the people who have hurt you in the past, read this and think about letting those people go.
Zig on Why You are Where You Are
Many years ago as a young, aspiring speaker, I heard an older speaker who was quite philosophical say that you are where you are because thats exactly where you you want to be. I thought about his statement, decided it was the "wisdom of the ages" and verbalized it in my own presentations. Over a period of time, a series of events took place that convinced me that his statement was not true in my case. I was broke, in debt and down in the dumps. I wanted to be prosperous and excited about my future.
It came through loud and clear that I was where I was and what I was because of the decisions and choices I had made in my life. I made those choices based on the information I had, much of which was erroneous. The reality is, if I'm given the wrong directions to go from point A to point B, I'm not going to reach point B unless I change directions. Its equally true that I'm given the wrong directions on how to move from being broke and in debt to being successful and prosperous, I'm not going to end up at the place I want to be.
One important decision you can make even as you read these words is to think about what Thomas Sikking said: "You're not the product of a broken home, a devastated economy, a world in the upheaval of war, a minority group, a family of drunkards or a poverty-ridden neighborhood. You are the product of your own thinking processes and whatever you're thinking about today is the cornerstone of your tomorrow."
If someone else has abused you in the past, it's OK to give them credit fo fouling your past, but do not give them permission to ruin your present and your future. Take control of your thoughts and your future. Determine that you will have a better tomorrow. Make specific plans to do so and I wil SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar
I hope this has been helpful. Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. The Power is in The Work.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
]]>We had an incident when I was there where one of the ladies had a bad attitude and was making snarky comments and dissatisfied because we weren’t able to raise enough money to take them on a trip. After a couple days of this bad attitude the other ladies were getting tired of it too.
It’s sad when women don’t lift each other up. It’s something I’ve never understood. You get connected or become friends with someone and think they will support you, but they don’t and in some instances do what they can to tear you down.
I had a mean girl incident happen to me early on in my involvement in the motorcycle industry.
I started riding when I was in my mid 30’s and did my first 4 years of riding on the “other side of the road” in the UK. I saw most of Europe from the seat of my Harley. I traveled all over England, Scotland and Wales, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Spain and even Norway. I also did a ride on a dual sport bike from Anchorage Alaska up through the Yukon to the Arctic Circle and back.
By the time I retired from the military I had thousands of miles of riding experience….and now I’ve ridden in Kenya!
There weren’t many women riders when I started but it started to grow and expand. I wanted to inspire more women to ride and set out on a mission to do that. I developed a brand called “PINK biker chic” and set off to develop programs to get more women to ride.
What I didn’t realize is that I was considered old by motorcycle industry standards. Although many women riders were 10-20 years older than me at the time, the motorcycle industry still had a skewed idea of a woman rider being a younger 20 something model type even though no one that age was riding a Harley. One of the dealership owners told me he knew what I was trying to do but wasn’t sure the industry would catch up to that idea. I didn’t give up but there were too many negative things going on with women in the industry that I finally got tired of and left it.
During the time I was building the brand I had one very well-known woman who had what you would consider celebrity status in the industry ask to meet up with me. I had only been out of the military a short time and as one person told me early after I left the military, I was nice but didn’t have a clue about the “real world.” There was some truth to that as I had lived in the military environment for over 2 decades.
I would innocently meet this woman thinking she had good intentions, but I later learned her intentions were to size me up and eliminate me if I got in her way.
We met at a local motorcycle hang out and had a nice chat. I thought she was nice and seemed like she wanted to help me succeed at what I was doing and be a mentor and a friend. However, I quickly learned that was not the case. I was starting to speak at women’s events called Women’s Garage Parties at Harley dealers sharing my story of how I learned to ride. She was going to be speaking at an event at a dealer in San Diego. I contacted the dealer and asked if they wanted another speaker. I indicated I knew the woman speaking too.
You would have thought I committed the crime of the century by “using her name without her permission.” What? OK, maybe I’m clueless and don’t know the proper protocol for something like that but what happened next was over the top from anything I had ever experienced.
She called me up after the dealer told her I indicate she knew me and screamed at me for 20 minutes. She threatened me with legal action, put me down, told me I was a loser and how dare I use her name. She called me names; told me she was going to ruin me and make sure I never spoke anywhere again and that my days at doing anything in motorcycling were done. I was so shocked and taken aback that I started crying and couldn’t stop. Why was she doing this to me? She seemed so nice and supportive and now wanted to destroy me, for what? Saying I knew her? I was completely confused. The fact that I was crying gave her power to continue berating me. Those were the days when I would attempt to compel someone to listen to my point of view. I explained that I had no bad intentions, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was furious and out for blood.
I forget where I was going but had pulled over and was so upset when I got off the call that it took me quite some time to calm down. I had never had anything like this happen to me before. It was extremely toxic and destructive behavior.
I called my close friend still crying and she helped my calm down. I don’t know if she tried to get me shut down but a few years later I actually was invited to speak at that dealership and the owner is actually an Air Force Veteran. Maybe if I did some research I would have been able to build a relationship with my veteran status and not mention the name of someone I thought was there to support me but actually only wanted to size me up and keep me down due to her own insecurities.
I learned a valuable lesson about people that day. You see I’d only dealt mostly with people in the military. Sure, we lived in the world but really weren’t part of it. Most people in the military have a certain way of operating and everyone lived by that code or ops tempo. It was actually a life where you knew what to expect.
Thinking back on our initial meeting, she bragged a lot about all the celebrities she hung around and things she’s done. She was beautiful on the outside but not so much on the inside which showed in her reaction to me using her as a referral. Still to this day I am perplexed by her over the top reaction to my simply saying I knew her. That’s all I said and it got turned into a big issue.
I think about how I would have handled that had it been me. I certainly would not have ripped the other person apart like she did to me. I may have asked for a heads up or if it’s someone I would refer, ask if they would like me to make the referral first.
She knew I was trying to learn how to operate in business and what I wanted to do. When we met, she said things that led me to believe she supported me, would help me and maybe even mentor me. I wasn’t imagining that. However, as I progressed through the industry, I heard from more people how that she had done that to others too.
It's always good to look at the lessons from a situation like this.
Lessons Learned:
1. Make sure someone is ok with you using their name as a referral. I hadn't encountered that before. Even though she was wrong with how she treated me, it made me cautious and more aware.
2. Leave Emotion Out -this is a strategy from my Think Like A Negotiator book. You aren't going to compel someone to see your point of view when they are angry or emotional. My mistake was trying to do that through my own emotion and the more upset I got the more she tore me down.
3. If you did something wrong or something that offends someone, even if you didn't mean to or know you were doing it, apologize and ask what we can do to move on from there. Obviously this woman wanted to rip me apart so no level of apology was going to work. I will share in a future blog about how that did work in a different situation.
During my time in the industry I was an approved journalist for Harley Davidson and could take out any bike I wanted from their fleet center as long as I wrote about it. I had an online magazine called GoPINK Magazine and I did video’s and blog posts about riding the bikes. I interviewed people at motorcycle shows and events at dealerships and other events. I interviewed Karen Davidson of Harley Davidson and won 3rd place in the Harley Owners Group Ladies of Harley Motorcycle Memories contest for my story about losing my kids grandpa in Europe while we were on our way to a motorcycle rally in France. I also appeared in an ad campaign for Harley Davidson one year for their 2006 model bikes and had a photo of a motorcycle trip to Spain appear in American Iron magazine. I was also featured in a veteran segment article for AARP magazine. I had many other adventures and have ridden many miles. Maybe I’ll share some of those stories here on the blog.
The bottom line is mean girls anywhere never get respect. They may yell and scream and get what they want in the moment but in the end, no one is going to respect that behavior or the person if they don't make amends for their outburst. We are all human and make mistakes, it's how you handle them that makes the difference.
Keep the rubber side down....
]]>This move has been planned for several months. We started discussing it last summer and after the crazy pop up season I started looking for a space. I found an 800SF space in Santa Ana with a warehouse and office/showroom space.
We shared some of the details on Thursdays BnB Live which you can watch here to catch up on the details. We plan to go live from our new space this coming week.
I knew in order to have a proper wholesale operation and increase our wholesale suppliers, we needed to have a proper shipping operation. That means a dedicated space for packaging, processing, and shipping orders of all sizes. I have been shipping out of my home office since I started this endeavor. At first the product was stored in my spare bedroom. That got overrun and it started stacking up in the dining room. I had beads everywhere.
We moved into a small 100SF storage then expanded to a larger 200SF storage unit. We have outgrown that unit and I was going to move from the current 200 SF unit to a 400 SF office. When I was looking at the office space, the leasing agent indicated a larger unit which had an additional 400 SF warehouse space attached to the office “just” came available. I put just in quotes because I don’t think it happened by coincidence. After prayer and consideration, I decided to move forward with the larger unit and although it’s a big risk financially, if we don’t take a risk there is no way we can grow. If we don’t set up to take on more business, we will remain as we are and will not change the lives of the ladies in Kenya for the better.
Join us this Thursday on our BnB Live Show from our new space. Also I showed the space on Swahili Sunday this past Sunday and shared about the amazing high performing team that made the move happen from one space to another in 3 hours. This is the 20' truck fully loaded with room to spare.
Soon we will be having classes and events at the location. Join the newsletter and like the Facebook Page to get notified of any events.
]]>Did you miss our live broadcasts this week?
Every week we go live on Thursday at 5PM Pacific for live shopping and more.
BnB Live Episode 5 - Check it out here if you missed it:
Catch Eldonna every Sunday at 9 AM Pacific every Sunday for Swahili Sunday.
5 Feb 23 Episode here on Risk, Rejection, Fear, our Educating Children Program and how you can join us in Kenya.
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]]>Happy Fair Trade Friday! Educating Children is one of our missions in Kenya. Many kids in poverty struggle because they are unable to go to school. Their parents are unable to pay the school fees so they stay at home. Teen pregnancy rates and violence happens as a result of kids not being in school.
Statistics on education in Kenya:
*27% Poverty Rate ($1.90/day)
*47% Living in slums v
*Literacy Rates Kids
-46% in slums
-72% out of slums
The Literacy rate is a direct reflection on kids in poverty not being able to attend school.
This is Aloise and Saumu last time I was in Kenya. I shared about them before. Aloise is very interested in Engineering and Robotics. He is entering Form 2 which is equivalent to a Sophomore in High School.
Saumu made it to Freshman year in high school. It’s called Form 1 in Kenya. Their school year is year round and starts every January.
We were only able to fund Aloise school fees and supplies which for him to return was $600+ For many families here that would be hard to come up with. The median income in Kenya is around $200 a month. It doesn't add up how a parent can put their kids in school when they don't make enough in 3 months to pay just the school fees alone. Many schools demand the entire payment upfront for the year and if you don't pay the fees and show up with the required school supplies you will be turned away.
Saumu’s expenses are close to the same and all the other kids we have been supporting are sitting at home because we don’t have the funds to pay for their fees and expenses. •
•
These kids want to go to school. Here in the US there are many kids that don’t want to be in school, don’t want to learn and don't think education is important. I have a friend who is a high school biology and chemistry teacher and he says very few of the kids he teaches are interested in school. The school has no consequences for missing class, late work or even failing or not showing up for exams.
These kids we sponsor want to learn and can’t. They want to get educated, learn a skill and work towards a career of some kind. How I wish I could fund every single kid in poverty in Kenya that needs education funds. •
I haven’t done enough to get the word to more people. I don't know enough about fund raising, preparing sponsor packages or getting publicity for the cause to garner more support. As a result we don’t have enough funds and these kids won’t get to go to school unless we get help. •
You can help in the following ways:
1. Make a donation of any amount here
2. Share this info with your friends.
3. Introduce me to an organization, business or group who would be interested in partnering with us to give these kids a chance.
CHECK OUT THE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Stylish Tunics
While Supplies Last Price has been reduced to $35 in our online store (was $49)
For the Yellow or Red Tunic please respond to this email as they are located in our retail space at Fair Trade Long Beach. Stop by the store if you are locat 4105 N Bellflower Unit B Long Beach CA.
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Thursdays – Live shopping and chat at 5PM Pacific
Swahili Sunday – Inspirational Topics 9 AM Pacific
]]>Happy Fair Trade Friday! This week I’d like to ask for your help. This weeks newsletter will highlight many of the things you can get involved in by either joining, supporting or sharing. Everyone in business knows you need to get exposure to get business. In our current world there’s a lot of noise out there and breaking through the noise is a key to getting noticed. Getting more people to take notice drives interest and sales which most importantly help the ladies in Kenya.
If you are someone who I connected with at an event where I was speaking on negotiation, I appreciate you staying with me as I’ve moved the focus to the work I’m doing in Kenya. I still speak on negotiation. I love to teach and speak on negotiation, effective communication and of course the mission in Kenya. If you are looking for a speaker for your group, get in touch. I have some amazing dynamic trainings and always weave the Baskets and Beads story in. Or if you want to share the story with your group, invite me to speak about the story of Baskets and Beads. I promise to leave your audience educated, inspired and refreshed.
Ask for Exactly What I Want is a Think Like A Negotiator strategy that I shared at the OC SCORE Women In Business conference shown above. You’re not going to get what you don’t ask for. Asking is what got me to Kenya in the first place. Today I am asking and I need your help in the following ways:
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JOIN US IN KENYA!
MISSION KENYA 2023 – May 28 -June 8
Details can be found in the Mission Kenya tab on the main page here. People have already expressed interest in going. We hope you will consider joining us. It will be a life changing experience.
SUPPORT US IN ONE OR SEVERAL WAYS
1. Become a monthly donor to help us cover school fees, food packs, medical care and other costs. We have donors starting at $5 a month. Every dollar helps. Donate here
2. Product of the week – Purchase a product. This is our product of the week that was on special last night for $5 off.
3. Volunteer to help me with loading and set up at local pop ups. I have a hard time asking for help with these. It’s a lot of work and it’s getting harder for me to do these with the lifting and loading and setup. If you are local in So Cal and would be willing to help I would greatly appreciate it.
The next big pop up event is Feb18-19. Set up is on the 17th and breakdown is on the 19th. I plan to rent a van unless someone has a van or truck that could hold the overflow from my car. Respond to this email if you are able to help.
4. Volunteer to help with putting out this newsletter and a few other behind the scenes actions. The person that was handling this disappeared and I have been doing this myself for a couple of weeks. If you know of a someone in school that would like to intern in a fair trade business please connect me with them.
SHARE THE MISSION
1. Follow on Instagram and Facebook and share with your friends. Comment on our posts on social media and our blog. This is a no cost way to help get the word out. The more engagement we get on social media, the more our posts are visible on social media which turns into more exposure and more sales. I recently got a notice from Facebook that said something like your engagement has increased and as a result we are showing your info to more people.
2. Another way to share is if you are part of a Rotary or other group that donates funds to organizations, we would love an introduction. Many organizations are looking to support efforts like this one and the only way they will know about it is if someone shares it with them. We would appreciate this type of support.
3. Do you know a boutique shop or other retail store that our products would be a fit for? An introduction to anyone you know in that space would also help.
I am asking for your help in any or all of these areas. We are better together and if you in anyway feel connected to this effort, will you please do what you can to help?
Thank you for your support and belief in this effort. At this point in my life I could be using my time to do things that only benefit me. I've been called to this mission in Kenya and although it's been challenging, I keep going because I know there are several women that are non existent to those around them and receive no help or support. We take so much for granted. They are grateful when they can buy food and pay the fees when they send their kids to school.
Thank you for your continued support and belief.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
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If you’ve been reading any of the newsletters over the last few weeks you are aware of the severe food shortage that our ladies in Kenya and most Kenyan’s are experiencing. Here are some facts about the food crisis:
On the other hand we here in the US destroy food for likes on social media, laughs or for advertising. It makes me sad to think that there are people starving because they can’t get enough food and there are people so fortunate to have an abundance of food that they waste food for entertainment. See this article about the “International Food Waste Meme” https://www.eater.com/2020/8/28/21399684/intentional-food-waste-meme-on-twitter-tiktok
If you are moved in anyway by this situation and would like to give some holiday cheer in the form of food packs to the ladies in Kenya, please consider a donation of any amount here https://www.basketsandbeadskenya.org
We need to raise about $1,000 to cover the cost of food packs for our 30 women and 80+ children. Any amount will help and it is a tax deductible donation.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.
Yesu Ni Sababu Ya Majira
Nakupenda
Eldonna
This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars.
I joined the military at age 19. I am thankful for my time in the military. It gave me the opportunity to change my path in life and enter the contracting career field basically by accident. When I had the opportunity to choose my job, the job I wanted wasn’t on the list. I didn’t know what any of the jobs on the list were, there wasn’t a description, only a title.
There was one job on the list that had a really high required score to get into the career field. It was twice the score of the other jobs on the list. I had scored high enough to choose almost any job. I chose the job with the high score. It was called Contract Specialist. That’s how I got into contracts and negotiation which led to my writing the book Think Like A Negotiator and speaking about negotiation.
Year End Donation Request
Do you need an extra tax deduction for the year?
Consider a donation to help support our ladies in Kenya.
In Kenya there is a severe food shortage due to drought. The ladies in Kipsongo have asked for help to get some beans, maize, rice, cooking oil and sugar. They are trying to sell beads in town but the cost of food has gone up so much that they aren’t able to pay the higher prices and are only able to have 1 meal a day. The kids will be home from school at the end of the month for 2 months so they won’t get meals at school and it will be harder for the ladies to feed their families.
During COVID we were providing food packs for over 30 women and 80 kids for $800-$1,000.
When I was in Kenya in June it was $1200+ to provide the same amount of food, now that amount has gone up even more. Just the beans and maize are close to $250.
If you are looking for a year end tax donation, please consider supporting the ladies in Kenya. Any amount will help.
Sign up for the winter soiree in Costa Mesa on Dec 3.
We will have entertainment, connection, food, fun and shopping. I recently saw a post from a friend whose health was failing and he was saying goodbye and how he hadn’t done enough while here on earth. There was an outpouring of love for him. Many said they wish they would have seen him more and spent more time with him. It makes me think about how short our lives really are and how we put off things until it’s too late. I would love to see you at the Soiree.
Tomorrow is never promised to us. Make time this holiday season to join me for a little celebrating and connecting. Looking forward to seeing you there.
The dress is casual, and the time spent will be priceless. Register here to get the details.
Where’s Eldonna
Nov 16 – Temecula Rotary (Speaking)
Nov 17 -American Legion Post 291 (Open to the Public) 4-7PM
Nov 19-20 American Martyrs Church
Nov 20 Los Altos Methodist Church
Nov 26 California Harley Vendor Fair
Dec 2 SCORE OC Women In Business
Dec 3 Winter Soiree
Dec 10 – California Harley Vendor Fair
Dec 11 – SPA DAY!!!
The beautiful soapstone products are hand carved, pained and etched by artisans in the Kisii area of Kenya. Bonny is the owner of the business. It is a family business and soapstone are has been part of his life all of his life.
I met Bonny on my last trip to Kenya. We have been working with him since 2018. He found us through our Facebook page and like many do, reached out to me to see if I was interested in the soapstone product. On one of my trips I had him send some sample product and then placed an order.
The quality of the product they make is excellent and we work together to improve the product for what customers here want. For instance the bowls pictured on the cover image are not painted on the inside and treated with beeswax so they can be used for food. Previously they were painted on the inside which made it no suitable for food. Many of our customers wanted to use them for more than decorations so we created a solution to make that happen.
I'm pictured here with Bonny at Imani Radio in Kitale, Kenya.
Soapstone is a soft rock that is easy to carve. The soapstone carvers make it into may different shapes and paint it right colors. We have been working with this group to develop new products and ways to make the product better.
Bonny started working with soapstone in 2016 after finishing university. The business is a family owned business and he took it over from his father who was a soapstone carver.
Bonny learned some skills for the business as a boy from his father but didn’t have much of an interest until he grew up and graduated from university. He thought if he can work this business he will help people in his community. Families struggle to get food, shelter, pay school fees and get medical care.
The men and women in the community who work with the soapstone depend on it as a source of income for their families. "If we are able to get more orders it will help us for paying school fees which is the biggest challenge." No school leads to drop outs, early marriage and pregnancy. Their goal is to provide steady work to prevent these situations from happening.
Your purchase of soapstone products helps families build a sustainable life.
These women are working on smoothing the soapstone figurines.
Visit the online store or our space at Fair Trade Long Beach in Long Beach CA to purchase soapstone products.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
This week I want to introduce you to Hellen. She worked on the streets of Kitale. Born in the Kipsongo slum as part of a family of 10. Her parents had fled Lodwar due to tribal clashes and her and her other 2 sisters were working on the streets to help the family. When she got pregnant, she left the streets and started living with the father but life became unbearable when the guy started beating her and abusing her in any way he wanted. When she tried to leave, the guy would hunt her down and beat her until she is taken to the hospital. She was isolated, depressed and it wasn't until the Basket and Beads community came together did she have the ability to change her situation.
Hellen was one of the first ladies we worked with, and like so many, it was really hard to get her to trust anyone. Over time she started to talk and laugh. She left the man she was with and now supports her 2 children from the money made from the necklaces and other handcrafted products. We even have a Hellen necklace in her honor. The pandemic has been hard on everyone as it was harder to keep our community together. Unfortunately, Helen has required medical attention for a miscarriage as the result of abuse. She will also be treated for diabetes. Thankfully, part of Operation Kenya 2022 is to help the community with some medical care..
The women that work within Baskets and Beads Kenya are resilient and tough. I like to think of the Ankara Wax Fabrics that are used for pillows, part of our purses, headbands and skirts (currently only available at the Fairtrade long beach store) when referring to how strong the women are in our community. The fabric is beautiful. unique- as the patterns are created from wax separating the portions of cloth to be dyed, strong and soft to the touch.
The items that are made by our artisan often tell a story about them. From the tree of life square soapstone bowls to the festive soapstone animals to the beaded baskets that take time to craft. Lots of heart goes into the creation that are shared with you. and it is a blessing to be able to provide an outlet of positive benefit for the artisan that make them.
Not all of our personal journeys are filled with rainbows and happy moments but the time that we share together provide hope for betterment. The ladies will even be going on a wellness retreat during Operation Kenya 2022 as we come together to continue to flourish as a community. Let's all take some time to relax this spring and see the beauty around us.
]]>Did you know that April Fools is not celebrated in Kenya? Hence, we are not fooling around with our discounts this week.
In honor of our sewing group we are offering a 25% discount on headbands! Just use coupon code "Headbands"
The sewing team also makes the doggie bandanas, table runners, and pillows. Soon we will have potholders and aprons. Here is a video of them sewing together. The stories of the artisans of Kenya demonstrate the heart that is put into the products that are made.
Pauline Esokony is part of the sewing team with, Fridah, Sharon, Rael, Dorcas , Maria, and Ann. Pauline was born in the Kipsongo slum where her Father left her mother when she was 5 years old. Life was really hard for her mother to provide food, clothes and shelter for Pauline and her siblings , she had to stop going to school and was forced to join her mother on the streets to go to the dumpster to look for food. With tears in her eyes she tells me how she wanted to go to school and have a different life, but she says she needs to work hard for her kids to go to school and have a better future, her dream is to be able to move out of the Kipsongo slum and live in a safe place. At age 15 she got pregnant and the guy did not acknowledge the kid , so the Catholic missionaries took her in with the baby and they trained her on tailoring and helped to take care of the baby. At 18 years old she started looking for a job, it was not easy because she met so many people especially men who wanted to sleep with her before giving her the job. She was lucky to join the National youth service which taught her more discipline and service, after the service she got a job. A few months later, she met the father of her 2 child. She heard about Baskets and Beads Kenya and what we were doing and she immediately wanted to join , she told me that she knew this is where she belongs and she is very happy and grateful, she is God fearing, and ready to learn and help those around her.
Next week we will share more about where the fabric comes from.
]]>Want a better way to clean up your space? Get one of our handmade brooms from the papyrus reed grasses that grow in Kenya.
These brooms get all the pet hair, dirt and debris on your patio and in your home. I use this over all the other handheld brooms I own.
We also have a limited edition table setting to help you get ready for your guests and trivets that can be used as hot plates to protect the cloth and table!
It is time for us to come out of our shells and embrace life. If you know a group or an organization that is looking for a speaker, I am still doing my Think Like a Negotiator talks and will gladly speak at your next event, podcast or live show. Just message me.
There is so much we can teach one another. That is the beauty of embracing Life and living to our fullest. We are getting more and more new products in the store and my event tables are always changing. Check out this video of our New Tree of Life Square Soapstone Plates.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Nakupenda,
Eldonna
PS> Where in the World Am I?
On April 9th I will be at the Second Saturday Pop-up at Long Beach Park View Village Shops, Check out the Event link Here
This Sunday, catch me live for Swahili Sunday as we talk about Aging with Grace and so much more!
(Let me help you share out your next event! Invite me to come and represent the Artisans of Baskets and Beads at a table.)
]]>As a result of your support, we have been able to increase our inventory, create new designs and help more families. Remember, when we first started it was with a couple of Bead Baskets, Paper Bead Necklaces and the Dinah Necklace. We are getting more soapstone in, design patterns for skirts (available at fairtrade long beach) are changing, headbands have been added to the site and so much more over the summer. Especially since I will be traveling to Kenya soon and will be able to provide a medical clinic, do a women's retreat with the ladies, and purchase more products on sight.
Being a fairtrade company means that Baskets and Beads Kenya pays a fair and reasonable price for a product before it is sold in the store. Any of our specials or discounts come from the stores overhead and not out of the pockets of the artisans. I look forward to sharing fashionable patterns from across borders. Our products have even been shown at fashion shows in the past.
It is important to have a space where you can detach from all the crazy going on in the world. I have a space on my patio that I call my garden sanctuary. I just updated the space with new furnishings as my previous furnishings have fallen apart. Do you have a space where you can detach from the world? Maybe it's at a park, a community garden or a special space in your house. Make sure you take some time to go to that space and tune out the world. I use my garden sanctuary as a place to pray and study God's word. It's very relaxing.
Going on a women's retreat with the ladies of Baskets and Beads is a special part about planning Operation Kenya 2022. These ladies work very hard every day and have no down time. They have to worry about feeding their children and earning enough to pay the school fees to send them to school. These are things most of us take for granted. This trip will allow them to experience rest, rejuvenation and restoration. Check out a video of a rainstorm I witnessed on a previous trip. Frankly, after all the travel and other restrictions over the last 2 years because of the pandemic, I am excited to get out of my backyard, even if it is a sanctuary.
The stories of these ladies are always inspiring, they have a tremendous amount of strength and resilience. The opening of borders is a blessing and a reprieve from some of the regulatory measures to protect us is a welcomed change. I heard earlier in the week that our ability to survive is resulting in people dressing for JOY! We are all willing to take more risks in our fashion, wear brighter colors, support causes that are close to our hearts and be loud and proud about our fashion sense. With this new JOY Dressing movement, I encourage you to purchase a Necklace. The Leila Necklace can be a striking fashion statement about JOY!
Spring is here! Let's make things beautiful together.
]]>It was International women's day the first time I spoke about creating Baskets and Beads at a Toastmasters event and as I stepped onto the stage and began to speak, my voice boomed through the room. After the event, I had a table set up in the back and before I could even get back there, the table was swarmed with listeners who wanted to support the artisans of Kenya. Some bought beads, others gave donations for my next trip and all of a sudden, I had a business. After making those sales, I started the non-profit and got certified as a fairtrade business.
As a fairtrade business, I had to make sure I was purchasing the products from the ladies at a fair and reasonable value before Baskets and Beads sold it to third parties. I needed more supplies after that 1 event. Before I knew about DHS or other ways to import goods internationally I tried to ship a box from Kenya to the states and they said it would cost 1200 bucks to get it here. I felt defeated as that would make the costs of doing this business prohibitive. As I prayed for a solution, a friend told me that they had a son in Nairobi and that they would be willing to take a suitcase full of beads home with them for a fraction of the cost. This act of kindness made it so Baskets and Beads was still in business.
When you have limited resources and a BIG IDEA, it is OK to ask for help. You never know who or what someone knows. I am often asking for help as we continue this journey together. Every time someone makes a purchase from the store, they are helping to support a tribe of over 30 women who handcraft the products you see in the store. In fact, I am still asking for help.
Now, that the borders are open, I am working on getting funds to support Operation Kenya 2022. I will be going there to provide a medical pavilion for an area that doesn't have medical support. I am collecting clothing for infants and small children and lastly, Operation Kenya will give the women an opportunity to go on a growth retreat where they will continue to learn about business together but also enjoy pampering themselves while seeing sights outside of the tribe. It is important to see the possibilities of what future growth provides and you can help me do that by making a small donation to the cause, right here.
Did you know that the ladies make purses! 1 of my favorites is the mini-clutch. It can be used as a stand-alone purse or it can be a wallet inside of a larger purse.
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A piece that always catches my eye is a paper bead necklace.
I love them because it is a necklace that all of the artisans know how to make and it is made out of recycled paper. I remember when I was first going to Kenya and I collected pallets of magazines to facilitate making these beads. Click here to see one of the ladies making a bead.
Operation Kenya 2022 will allow me to bring so much more to the ladies of Kenya than just magazines. This week, if you purchase a shirt from the store, $25 will go towards the fundraiser that we are doing to make the trip happen. In the photo below you can see the quote that is on the shirt. Check out the full fundraiser here.
I am so thankful to those who have already donated and continue to show support. It is a blessing to be able to serve others. You help make a dream become a reality for these women and children in Kenya (most of them do not have husbands - many of the husbands died in tribal conflicts). The funds will be used as follows:
Mobile Medical Clinic - including transportation for medical staff and medicines and treatment for all who seek it in that area. This clinic will be open all day from morning until late afternoon.
Transportation to a rural mountain community for the conference, food, blankets and supplies for the families in that area and lunch for all attendees including children.
Transportation, lodging and meals from Kitale Kenya to Mombasa Kenya (8+ hours by bus to Nairobi, 5+ hours by train to Mombasa, Accommodation, Meals, Activities, transportation back)
Any remaining funds will be used to pay school fees and provide food packs for the ladies and their families and the 2 street kids we sponsor for complete care year round including school fees and room and board when not in school.
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This is the last week Large Soapstone Bowls will be on sale for 50% off.
There are only 19 left in stock - they make great planters or decorations. 6 turquoise, 3 yellow, the rest of the colors only have 1 or 2 left.
Click Here to watch a video of one of our artisans making the bowls.
The animal soapstone figures are also really adorable!
When we are working with the artisans of Kenya, we recognize that not all of them make the same necklaces, basket styles, clothing or even soapstone figures. We try to make sure that we source our products from as many artisans as we can so they can all benefit from our fair trade exchanges.
Have you ever felt unwanted or unloved? I know I feel that way at times. It can be a struggle at times. I know God loves me and my children and friends but that doesn’t alleviate the feeling that I am missing something or someone.
The ladies in Kenya experience that too. They are rejected in the town where they live because they are from a different tribe. I have witnessed it firsthand. I’ve dedicated my life to empowering these women and others who need it. I am heading to Kenya in May and raising funds for the work we are doing there this trip. $15,000 - see the link for details.
Your donation will make an eternal difference for these women and help them to continue to feel valued, loved, and respected. Please consider a donation. 150 donations of $100 will achieve the goal or 750 donations of $25. Any amount will help.
Here are some other fair trade sellers, I talk about in this video:
Tyger Lotus (Available on Instagram)- Clothing
Fazl Socks- Handmade Socks by women in the Himalayas
Just tea- Tea is one of the biggest exports from Kenya
Soapko Artisan Soaps (@soapko.a.s)- Handmade Soap
One of the products we suggest starting with besides the products made by Baskets and Beads Kenya is Chocolate, check out our previous article about the industry.
To check if something is fairtrade you can look for the fair trade logo on the product. Here are some of the principles that fair trade federation members follow.
However, you aim to add fair trade to your life, know that small purchases can make a huge difference.
This week we just got in Turkana tote baskets.
They are sturdy, stylish, and have a sleek design.
Currently, Baskets and Beads Kenya is raising funds for OPERATION KENYA 2022
Have you ever felt unwanted or unloved?
I know I feel that way at times.
I don’t have anyone to love me on a daily basis. It’s a struggle at times. I know God loves me and my family and friends but that doesn’t alleviate the struggle.
The ladies in Kenya experience that too. They are rejected in the town where they live because they are from a different tribe. I have witnessed it firsthand. I’ve dedicated my life to empowering these women and others who need it. I am heading to Kenya in May and raising funds for the work we are doing there this trip. $15,000 - Click here for more details.
Your donation will make an eternal difference for these women and help them to continue to feel valued, loved, and respected. Please consider a donation.
150 donations of $100 will achieve the goal or 750 donations of $25. Any amount will help.
Thank you for being here with us as we reach goals, make an impact, and better the world.
Nakupenda,
Eldonna
]]>January is gone already, and over the last month, I have been to a celebration of Life for Pastor Steve Rutenbar who I originally went to Kenya with and for a friend's son who died in a tragic car accident. It makes me realize that time goes by quickly, life is short and we have no time to spare.
For 2022 I have committed to having more me time. I work a corporate job that is still covering some of the business expenses as we grow back the business and recover from the effects of COVID. After that job I then go to work on Baskets and Beads and if I do that like I’ve been doing, it leaves very little time for much else.No one wants to get to the end of their life and say “I wish I would have worked more.”
When I got my puppy Indigo it forced me to get outside more often and take her places like the dog park and beach. I enjoy watching her run and play and I am going to get her involved in Agility soon. This forces me to exercise more. I walk at least 3 miles a day with her. I’ve also committed to spending more quality time with friends and doing fun things. As I am writing this Indigo keeps bringing her toy to me to throw and play tug of war. She is 8 months old now and weighs 52 pounds. I am happy she is part of my family.
OPERATION KENYA 2022 - TRIP TO KENYA AND FUNDRAISER
Speaking of family, the next trip to Kenya is set. I have booked my flight and I am leaving on May 26th and I need your help. We have big plans for several things we are going to do while I’m in Kenya. We are raising $15,000 for this trip to accomplish the following:
In order to reach that goal, I need 150 people to donate $100.If you are willing to help with that or any amount, we would appreciate the support. If you are part of a church group, Rotary club or other groups that might provide a group donation, please invite me to speak and share the story of the ladies in Kenya. This is a goal I feel God has placed on my heart to carry out so I am walking by faith that the donations will show up to fulfill this mission. Please click here to donate.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
P.S.Fair Trade Friday Product of the Week is our 3” Soapstone Hearts. We have less than 10 in stock and they are 10% off!
Don’t forget we still have a half-price sale on our large Soapstone bowls. Click here to get yours while supplies last!
]]>Instead of our normal product of the week and story about one of our Artisans, I asked Leila our Kenya Team Director to gather a few tributes and notes about Steve from some of the people he touched in Kenya. You will see that below along with my own.
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You took me and showed me love that I did not know before, you never judged me and you always saw the good in me. You were always ready to defend me. Your friendship and loyalty were out of this world, most of all you introduced Jesus Christ into my life and that was the greatest gift you gave me, I love you big guy 💕💕rest easy. Leila Bella Salma, Kenya Team Director Baskets and Beads Kenya.
Steve we are so privileged to have known you, you taught us on generosity, you kept reminding us clenched fists will never receive anything but open fists are able to receive more and more. We will miss you, rest easy Rafiki. Rachel Aimba
Pastor Steve, walking and working with you in this life was a great privilege and honor to me. Your footprints will always be seen in the streets of Kitale and beyond, your legacy will remain forever in our hearts. The greatest thing I learned from you is that a network of people is my net worth. You walked a faithful path in ministering to people. Rest easy Steve ❤️❤️ Geoffrey Okumu
I can't express how heartbroken I am, not only were you my Godfather, my mentor, and a great role model in my life, you are the reason I became the person I am today. you were always there to remind me to work harder in everything I do to achieve my goals.
You taught me the importance of serving God, the importance of loving others as much as I love myself.
I miss you, Steve,I miss us singing your favorite songs after every dinner(hakuna mungu kama weweee..) , sharing God's word and praying together.
I know you are in heaven singing with the Angels.
We love u Steve, until we meet again, rest in peace. Sophie Elliot
Will the pain ever leave me, will the hurt ever cease? The feeling that I feel cannot be described. The tears that cannot be held back but so openly flow. The feeling of complete emptiness that I feel from head to toe. I have not lost a relative or a friend but surely a piece of myself, dad you gave us the best we would ask you taught us the word of God, dad I have so much memories of you the best was the day you got us from the street, you fought for our freedom your our Nelson Mandela, you taught us to always the truth I will really miss how you used to call me " joma" "my skinny girl" your last words were please make me proud and ill always do that,I know God's garden must be beautiful because he only takes the best. Dearest dad may your soul rest in peace in the mansions of the Lord I love you ❤️❤️ Josphine Ikaru
Steve, you were an amazing leader and mentor. I only wish I would have been able to know you longer than a few years. I learned so much in such a short time. God used you to touch many lives. You made a difference and because of you I chose to come to Kenya and God is making an impact in the lives of the women in Kipsongo.I want to be the kind of leader you were and pray God will continue to use me in Kenya. Thank you for all you taught me. Until we meet again. Eldonna
Thank you all for reading. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Steve to help the ladies we are working within Kenya to cover school fees, medical care, and supplies for their children it will be given in honor of all the years of service Steve did in Kenya. Donate here. Choose “other” for the donation.
]]>During this month, we celebrate the efforts of foreign governments, international organizations, anti-trafficking entities, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, businesses, and private citizens all around the world to raise awareness about human trafficking.
As a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation, Baskets and Beads Kenya is doing our part to ensure we help eradicate human trafficking. We do this by ensuring our ladies have opportunities to earn income and being able to leave trafficking behind (some of our ladies were prostitutes) and we ensure there is no child labor among other things.
You can help eradicate human trafficking by purchasing some of your products that are Fair Trade verified or certified.These products have the promise that human trafficking is not part of their supply chain.
For instance, you can purchase our product of the week which is the large solid color soapstone bowl. These bowls are colorful and have beautiful hand-carved designs. The best part is they are 50% off while supplies last.
What is soapstone? Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is largely composed of the mineral talc which is rich in magnesium. It has been used for carving for thousands of years.
Our soapstone supplier is from the Kisii region of Kenya where the soapstone is located. Each piece is individually hand-carved, waxed, polished, or painted. They make small animal figurines, several sizes of bowls, ornaments, tea light candle holders and other various items.
The aim of the group is to raise funds through the sale of soapstone carvings and enable all children in their community and the surrounding area to have access to education, shelter, and medical care.
The artisans have already been paid for the products. The sale does not negatively affect them in any way.
These bowls make great planters or can be used for dry food items or as a decoration in any part of your home.
Thank you for your continued support. Your purchase helps eradicate poverty in the lives of men, women, and children in the Kisii region of Kenya.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
]]>Many people make New Years Resolutions. If you search the internet you will find statistics that say only 8% of people actually keep resolutions or 80% of resolutions fail.
While there are various statistics about resolutions, the consensus is that they fail. Why is that?
I think it’s because they are nothing but a statement; lose 10 pounds, pay off bills, make $100K in sales.
Those are great desires but without any thought-out plan, they will fail every time. When I was in the Air Force, I worked out almost every day. I was either in the gym or out running. Every January and part of February the gym would be packed. Those of us who were there all the time would wait for the “New Year’s Resolution” people to clear out so we could get back to working out like normal.
If you haven’t done so yet, think about your goals for next year. I have a goal-setting process. I do every year for my personal and professional goals. I will be sharing about this on Swahili Sunday this Sunday on Facebook and YouTube. Also, you can check out the blog post from last year which also includes a recording of me discussing the process last year as well.
Another thing I do is set a word for the year. I have been doing this for the last several years and have that as my foundation. My word(s) I chose 2 last year) were grace and gratitude. I will talk about that in the Swahili Sunday on the 9th and share my word for 2022. Here’s last year's blog post about the word of the Year. I’d love for you to consider that for your year and share your word with me:
This wouldn’t be a Fair Trade Friday email without a product of the week. Our product of the week is this amazing hand broom.
This broom is the best hand broom on the planet in my humble opinion. It’s made from natural materials that grow in Kenya and are made into this broom. I’ve used them on my patio and in my house. I have pets and it’s great for getting up dirt and hair from the pets. Nothing gets stuck in the broom itself. It’s also great for sweeping the patio. It’s outperformed all the brooms I own and is my go-to broom. You could also use it as a cool decoration. It adds natural style to any room. Get yours here.
Finally, as a reminder, we are still raising funds to help the families in Kenya. Sales are not at a sustainable level and our ladies still need your help. We also have 2 kids that have lost their sponsors and we are covering their costs. One of them needs a mattress and some other supplies plus school fees and supplies will be needed. Please consider donating here.
Thank you for being part of this community and following our mission.We at team Baskets and Beads are grateful for you and your continued support.
Happy New Year 2022!
Check Out Swahili Sunday:
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How much do you “give back” to the artisans you work with?
We often get asked this.
The answer? Nothing. Instead of using a “give back” model the artisans are paid first and paid well.
Artisans tell us what they want to be paid for their work. They set the prices. After they give us their price, we will dig deeper to confirm that they are covering their costs and building sustainability and profit into their businesses.
Our buying team works with them to develop an understanding of what a fair income is in their local community. We research in the area and with other buyers here in the US to compare pricing and ensure the prices are fair to them and that it will provided a sustainable wage for their family.
One of the Fair Trade Federation Principles is to develop transparent and accountable relationships. Fair Trade involves relationships that are open, fair, consistent, and respectful. We create mechanisms to help artisans/producers feel actively involved in the trading chain. It’s a dialogue that builds incomes and takes the risks that come with business off the artisans and helps families thrive.
As a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation we believe that doing business respectfully and honestly is the right thing to do. And we believe that when we invest in an inclusive economy, everybody has the opportunity to flourish.
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Unfortunately, there are many who have lost loved ones this past year and are struggling to spend their first holidays without them. There are many still struggling with the effects of COVID and job loss, income loss or other issues.
I shared my thoughts about this on our last Swahili Sunday which you can listen to here.
If you are experiencing some tough times this year, my heart goes out to you. I have close friends who have lost loved ones and I have lost special people and friends to COVID and other illnesses.
If you listened to the video I shared about my childhood and how the holidays were either chaos or sadness depending on what part of my childhood. I worked through all that trauma from my childhood. However, I still struggle at times with the holidays because I live alone. Getting my dog Indigo has been something that has helped me in so many ways. I’m exercising more by walking her and she brings a lot of joy and happiness to my life. I love watching her run at the dog park or beach.
While you are enjoying your holiday with family, friends, or solo, remember the ladies and kids in Kenya. All of us work so hard to ensure that they have a chance at a better life. It’s a challenge every month to ask for support when everyone seems to be “donated out.”However, I can’t sit at my table and eat a meal in the comfort of my home and ignore their struggles. They are part of my heart now and my family.
I don’t have to do what I’m doing. It’s a lot of work and working a job on top of it is sometimes overwhelming and exhausting. I feel my mission is a calling to serve these wonderful women who inspire me with their tenacity.
If you feel like the work we are doing in Kenya is an inspiration and worthy cause, please support with a small donation to end the year. School starts again for them in January and school fees will come due. We need help to pay those fees.
Thank you for your continued support and for staying connected with me and the Baskets and Beads team.
Nakupenda
Eldonna
PS>The Fair Trade Product of the Week are the SoapStone Bowls
To ensure that Fair Trade Principles are followed in every aspect of our business we must choose partners that also make sure the supply chain is free from forced labor. That includes t-shirts.
The special this week is on our black and grey frost ¾ length T-shirt made by District Clothing. District Clothing has a supply chain policy to ensure no slave labor is used in the manufacturing of their products. You can see their full disclosure here.
Another fact about anything manufactured in California or doing business in California, especially in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles is that it must comply with the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act which was enacted to prevent human trafficking and slave labor in retail.
Rest assured that Baskets and Beads researches all of the products we sell where we use outside sources and also all of the products we use, such as brownies. As a thank you to some of our customers, clients and sponsors we have sent brownies. We researched the company that we use (Fairytale Brownies) to ensure their chocolate comes from a Fair Trade vendor and that no forced or child labor is used in the production of the chocolate. The chocolate industry is a major offender of using forced labor to produce the chocolate, you can read about it here.
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