Again, merely for your enjoyment.

I have much to write about and share with you, but as my time in Uganda is drawing to an end I am scrambling to finish things and spending as much time as possible with my family and friends here.

So for now, these photos will have to be worth the thousands of words I don’t have time to write.

Hope you all are well!

Holly Elzinga

….. merely for your enjoyment. 

February 7, 2009

Everyday to go home I board a matatu from town to Bugolobi Luzira. On good days, I catch the taxi when it is almost full, get a seat somewhere near the front, and manage to avoid the jam. On other days, I’m one of the first people to board and I shimmy my way into the back seat. We lurch around looking for 11+ other people traveling in the same direction, only to be stuck for what may be hours in the traffic jam in Kampala.

Thankfully today was a good day.

So … Everyday I take this matatu past Bugolobi and Kittintale until I reach the SP gas station on the left. I say “maso awo” to the conductor, meaning “stop just a bit ahead,” and I give him 1000 shillings (about sixty American cents). Then I walk a mile or so up Luzira hill, past Radio Maria, past the summit where you can see the great waters of Lake Victoria, until I reach the junction before Biina. There I turn left down the muddy dirt road, greet the children and Sarah, and continue until I reach the house with a black-gated fence. At that point I turn left again and walk up the steep hill past three gates until I reach my home.

So now I’ve just told all of you how exactly to find me in Uganda.
(just in case you’d like to visit).

Today, walking up Luzira hill, I was particularly tired. I’d been walking since about 8:00 in the morning, weaving my way in and out of traffic and bodies and shielding my eyes from the scorching sun.

I had first gone to visit TASO Uganda and the Mulago Positive Woman’s Network (MPWN), two amazing organizations working with HIV+ men, women, and children in Uganda. The MPWN is an income-generating empowerment program for HIV+ women, and Fair Earth is in the process of developing a relationship with them so we can bring you their products.

After visiting with them, I went to FOCUS (the organization I worked at in 2004) to discuss some new jewelry designs and networking opportunities. I was then on a mission to find a man called “Silver,” who I was told made leather sandals. I was given general directions, and after asking several people and walking for what felt like miles, I found Silver in the outskirts of town. His small but productive workshop was surrounded by the swarming busyness of the veteran’s market. He introduced me to his work and we discussed new design possibilities and business development, including a future partnership with Fair Earth.

The afternoon stretched into long hours so that at the beginning of my mile-long hike up Luzira hill, I was already feeling tired. When I reached the summit where the expanses of lake Victoria are visible, I paused for a moment to take in the scenery. Dusk was falling, and in the hills surrounding the lake, whips of smoke rose into the air as families prepared their dinner. Thinking about food cooking, my stomach began to growl; I turned my gaze and quickened my pace towards home.

My cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“Yes Holly, this is Janet.”
Janet is my Ugandan mom.
“Janet! I’m about to reach home… I’m walking up the hill.”
“Ok… its getting late, and we’re wondering why there’s no sign of dinner. We’re getting hungry.”

My stomach was also growling. We realized, to everyone’s dismay, that we had mis-communicated the days I was scheduled to cook an “American” dinner, meaning it will take at least three hours from now to prepare food. Our stomachs will have to wait.

My gait relaxes and I take in the scenery. A boy carrying firewood. Women organizing their kiosks. Matoke cooking. Children playing football, or helping their moms cook, or cleaning the compound. It is very difficult not to notice the children. Everyday, without fail, they run after me as I walk home calling the same greeting:

“Bye Mzungu! Bye – yeeee! MZUNGU! BYE-YEEEEE!!!”

They scream louder and run closer until I stop and purposefully say goodbye to each of them. Sometimes I find this daily ritual to be quite humorous.

There was one day in particular when I literally went weak in the knees from laughter while walking from home into Luzira town to find a pharmacy. Some men were sitting around on their porch drinking marula, a local brew made from millet flour. One of them pointed at me and shouted, “Mzungu!” Suddenly I became the center of attention for everyone around. The man that caused me to completely loose my composure and break down into laughter was an older gentleman, or mzee, of at least 75 years. I imagine there are many times when his eyes are filled with wisdom and insight, but at this particular moment they were glazed over with merriment. He stood up, leaning on his bamboo straw which dipped into the marula gourd, and yelled in a bellowing voice, “MZUNGU! HOW ARE YOU! MZUNGU! HOW ARE YOU! MZUNGU! HOW ARE YOU! HOW ARE YOU!”

At first I responded, saying “I’m fine, thank-you, how are you?” But I was quick to realize that he was not asking me to find a response. He was merely thoroughly enjoying the rarely-seen spectacle of a white woman trying to make her way through the market to town.

As I continued walking and his bellowing greetings faded into the distance, I felt like one of those circus clowns with a painted-on grin and battery-powered hand that waves at people. Push me here and I’ll smile. Pull this string and I’ll wave. Press this button and I’ll jump.

Let me tell you, being a part of a human circus is never a good feeling, no matter what side of the fence you are on.

I should mention, however, that I am highlighting this situation because it is very rare. For the most part, encountering disconnect and spectacle from the people here is almost unheard of for me. Any of you who’ve listened to me speak of Uganda know that this place is my second home, and the connection I experience with this land and the people here goes far deeper than I can understand.

Even the “circus” feeling I get sometimes while walking home can be overcome very simply when I shake a child’s hand a say in Luganda, “My name is not Mzungu; my name is Holly.” This without fail makes them giggle and respond to me incredulously in Luganda, amazed that I know their language. In those few words a HUGE barrier comes crashing down, and we make a human connection.

In fact, it is this connection that has time and again filled me with awe, and has been a driving force behind the establishment of Fair Earth. I have been welcomed with open arms as a foreigner into a community that is not my own; I have been adopted into a family here; and I have built a trusting business partnership with numerous artisans. Working together, we have developed a social enterprise that is self-sustaining for all of us, relying on mutual trust and comradery as our deposits and safe-holds.

Our experiences connect and unify us. We find joy in our points of commonality and inspiration in our uniqueness.

There is much more I could write about this, but my stomach is growling and before dinner Joshua wants me to help him make a poster about “Communication in Business” for a presentation he has at school tomorrow. So I’m off to do homework!

Hope you all are well,

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga

Machakos, Kenya

The Yata South Weavers group was started back in 1988 as a small workshop providing an income to women in the area through the production of local crafts. It has grown to be one of the largest communities of sisal weavers in Kenya, employing over 1000 women and exporting to both national and international markets. The organization is run by the weavers themselves, providing a model for a self-sustaining business with embedded leadership.

The facilities, located over an hour outside of Nairobi, are a production point for numerous designs of bags and baskets which are hand-woven by the women from sisal, a strong and durable natural plant material.

The Yata South women were delighted to host visitors. They gave us a thorough tour of their workshop, explaining the methods and skills behind their beautiful handbags and baskets.

The pictures of them working speak volumes more about their process than I can do with words, so photos are included below for your enjoyment.

A variety of their products can currently be found on www.ourfairearth.com in the handbags section – look for Kiondo bags.

Sisal growing naturally

Green plant material is removed from sisal leaves

After this, a strong and durable natural fiber remains.

Sisal fiber is divided into thin strands

Strands of fiber are twisted into a rope in preparation for weaving

Charcoal is ground for dyeing the sisal

Gathering soil for dyeing

Charcoal dust is boiled in water

Boiling vats of dyes, which include charcoal, soil, soot, berries, roots, grass, and plants.

Stirring the dyes

Raw sisal is added to the boiling dyes

After boiling for some time in the dyes, the sisal has its new color!

Dyed sisal ropes are meticulously woven into a basket

This woman was amazing! Her skilled fingers were flying

After the basket is woven, excess sisal ropes are trimmed off

The basket is trimmed for neatness, and the top fibers are sealed with a needle and thread

At this stage, functional and decorative items such as handles, lids, and beads are added

The result? Beautiful and stylish hand-woven kiondo bags!

I first encountered Kazuri beads in a shop in Kampala, Uganda. Immediately I was enamored. My eyes relished the voluptuous curves of shiny hand-made beads artfully strung into captivating necklace, earring, and bracelet designs. I wanted to try each piece on, and finally settled upon a necklace named “African Sunset” which was generously given to me as a gift. The necklace was strung with circular rusty red beads reminiscent of African soil and the colors of the night sky, offset by artfully shaped smaller beads colored and polished a rich tan color.

I set my mind upon finding the artists who made these creations. I learned they were in Nairobi, which was my next destination. We got horribly lost the first night there when our taxi driver drove around for hours in search of our hotel, and ended up at a random guesthouse, exhausted, in the early hours of the morning. Confused and disoriented when the sun rose, I was shocked and exhilarated to find that I was within walking distance of the Kazuri beads workshop.

Upon entering the compound I saw a sign that said “Kazuri - a bead to match every mood.” Walking into the shop, I saw that this certainly was the case. I was soaking in a visual feast of beads in every shape and color I could imagine. I was even more impressed by the social mission behind Kazuri. They employ over 340 women, mostly single mothers, and also provide for them health care.

Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, a name which reflects the uniqueness and beauty of each hand-crafted and hand-painted piece. Kazuri designs are rich in color and alive with collaborative creativity. The organization was started in 1975 by Susan Wood, working initially with two African women experimenting in making hand-made beads. They have expanded drastically since then, growing both in their knowledge and skill of ceramics as well as the impact they are making in the lives of many women. Kazuri provides employment opportunities to several women in the Nairobi area, most of whom are single mother who are in great need of regular employment.

We are excited to bring you a comprehensive collection of Kazuri beads creations for 2009. The designs are reflective of the rich diversity and colors of Africa. With product names such as Papyrus, Lavender Girl, Night Sky, Bush Fire, Lichen, Lapis, Rain Forest, Acacia, Marina, Satellite, Monsoon, Golden Fox, Sand Storm, Bedouin, Ox Blood, Dawn Music, Savanna, and many others, you are sure to find a design that exactly suits your particular mood and style!

I hope all of you are well, and I look forward to seeing you in March!

Sincerely,

Holly Elzinga
www.ourfairearth.com