Kazuri Bead and Malachite Jewelry Displayed Below
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. They were dedicated to
making a difference and Lady Wood started a coffee plantation on the Karen
Blixen estate, famous from the award winning movie "Out of Africa" ,
at the foot of the Ngon'g Hills, about 30 minutes from the bustling Nairobi
city center in Kenya. Lady Wood was a visionary, an unsung hero of her time.
She assisted her husband in founding the East African Flying Doctor Service,
which expanded into the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) of which
Michael Wood was Director General for 29 years. Michael Wood was knighted in
1985.
The beginnings of Kazuri Beads
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
Kazuri Beads Today
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 team.
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Kazuri Beads |
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Kazuri Beads |
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Kazuri Beads |
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Kazuri Beads |
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Kazuri Beads |
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Kazuri Beads |
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Bone Necklace |
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Bone Necklace |
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Bone Necklace |
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Bone Necklace |
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Bone Necklace |
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Bead Necklace |
Malachite
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Malachite Necklace |
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Malachite Necklace |
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Malachite Necklace |
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Malachite Bracelet paired with each Necklace |
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