|
The Kazuri Story
Kazuri Founder - Lady Susan Wood was born (1918) in a mud hut in an
African village. Her parents were missionaries from England in the Ituri Forest. Lady Wood was sent back to England to be
educated and married Michael Wood, a surgeon. They came to Kenya in 1947. Lady Wood started a coffee plantation on the Karen
Blixen estate, famous from the award winning movie "Out of Africa".
In 1975, Lady Susan Wood set
up a fledging business making beads in a small shed in her back garden. She started by hiring two disadvantaged women, and
quickly realized that there were many more women who were in need of jobs and so Kazuri Beads was created and began its long
and successful journey as a help center for the needy women especially single mothers who had no other source of income. In
1988 Kazuri became a factory and expanded hugely with over 120 women and men. Here women are trained and apply their skills
to produce these unique and beautiful beads and jewelry. The beads are made with clay from the Mt Kenya area thus giving them
authenticity to their craft. The factory acts as a social gathering with the hum of voices continuing throughout the day.
With unemployment so high, one jobholder often ends up providing for an "extended family" of 20 or more. Kazuri
is a member of the FAIR TRADE ACT.
Today Kazuri, the Swahili word for 'small and beautiful'
produces a wide range of hand made, hand painted ceramic jewelry that shines with a kaleidoscope of African colors and Kenyan
art that reflects a culture and appeal to a worldwide fashion market. Kazuri's beautifully finished products are made
to an international standard and are sold worldwide. These standards are maintained through high training standards and a
highly motivated management today
Enter content here
|
