The Slocan Valley Grassroots Grammas are once again inviting you to attend an Afternoon Tea event featuring Kazuri Jewellery on Sunday, May 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at a beautiful home in Vallican.
The event was so popular last year — with this dazzling jewellery beautifully displayed, tea in real china and those lovely little sandwiches with the edges cut off (the kind you never make yourself), not to mention visits with friends at the riverside — that the African jewellery quickly sold out. The Grassroots Grammas have brought in a much larger selection this year, because so many people want to support the women making the jewellery and the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grans to Grans campaign.
Each bead in an earring, bracelet, choker or necklace has been hand-formed from local clay under excellent working conditions by one of the 350 women employed by the fair trade Kazuri company in Nairobi, Kenya. These mothers and grandmothers are often the sole breadwinners for extended families.
This lovely jewellery gives twice in that a percentage of the sales goes to the not-for-profit Kazuri company, then the rest, along with all proceeds from the tickets and donations go directly to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign to support grassroots projects run by and for African grandmothers raising children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The connection made between the Kazuri company and the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers’ Campaign has resulted in well over $685,000 being raised since 2007 by small groups like the Nelson Grans to Grans and the Slocan Valley Grassroots Grammas.
If the idea of sipping a beverage beside the Little Slocan River in the company of friendly people, joining in solidarity with women in Africa and possibly finding a perfect spring gift for yourself or someone else appeals to you, please mark your calendar for May 25 and join the fun.
Tickets for the Afternoon Tea are being sold in advance by Grassroots Grammas members for $5. When you purchase your ticket, you'll find out the secret location of the event. If you require a ticket, call Linda at 250-226-7304 or Brenda at 250-226-7661. Kazuri jewellery items are priced between $15 and $50, and will be available for cash or cheque.