Upcycled Wire Earrings-Butterfly

Description

Your purchase has the power to make a life changing difference. 

Made using upcycled wire these large butterfly earrings are quirky and unique. 

I bought these earrings for RainbowLife because butterflies are very special. They are indicators of the health of our environment. These earrings hold symbolic value for me.

I also bought these earrings as I feel strongly that the work of these ingenious & creative artisans needs to be recognised....

They are made by a remarkable and inspiring youth employment workshop; Zakale Creations. Zakale Creations is a Project located in Huruma, which is part of Mathare, Nairobi. The slum population is approx. 8,000 with a very high unemployment rate (approx. 80%).

The people who live here have many challenges including poor housing, lack of basic facilities, including water, roads and lack of education. The ‘drop out’ from Primary School is very high and only a very few complete their Primary School education.

Now approximately 10 people trained at Zakale are independent craftsmen and women.

Their upcycled range also employs others outside of the workshop, who collect and clean bottle tops, wire, tin cans and old cooking pots to be transformed into beautiful jewellery.

Imagine you could be wearing a pair of earrings crafted by an artisan whose life has been transformed.

Why not take a look at our Upcycled Bracelets too?
See more Upcycled Jewellery >>

Specifications:

Drop: 4 cm
Width: 3 cm
Origins: Made in Nairobi, Kenya
Materials: Made of upcycled wire.
Nickel free hooks.

Story

Zuri Design was started 17 years ago by Helen Scanlan, who worked in Kenya and Uganda as a volunteer over a number of years.  Helen saw the opportunity to alleviate poverty through the trade of handmade gifts and jewellery.

Once set up as a wholesaler, Zuri Design financed a start- up workshop in Kibera slum, employing and training former street boys. Since then, Zuri Design orders have created work for more than 200 men and women in Kenya and Uganda, within over 10 workshops.

Working so closely with people from slums in Kenya, means Helen has witnessed first-hand the hardship of living in poverty and the positive impact Zuri Design has within the communities, providing them with livelihoods so people can work their way out of the cycle of poverty.

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