jewelry update

after a rough week here last week, i am so happy that this week is already starting better.

i'm really excited about some recent updates in our jewelry program. several months ago, an ngo that supports the school had some of their leaders from canada visit. they toured the school and saw what kinds of projects the students have been working on. they were really impressed with the jewelry we had produced. the visitors bought several pieces when they were here.

and, it turns out, they were so impressed that they also donated a large amount of money for supplies!

the teacher i have been working with, annacleta, went to kumasi last week and bought OH SO MUCH beads and other jewelry supplies. she's excited. the headmistress is excited. the students will be excited, when they see it. i'm excited. hopefully this will be the nudge that the school needs. we've been on the brink of having something really great; i hope they can keep it up.

i talked to the headmistress today about all of this stuff, and she and annacleta want to expand the jewelry program to the jhs students and boy vocational students as well, if they are interested.

additionally, the headmistress is interested in opening a small shop just outside the school so that a couple days a week some students can go and tend it. they'll sell the woven cloth and jewelry that the students have made.

which in turn...will raise money to keep things going!

this wasn't exactly how i pictured the program being funded, but i'm really happy that some money (and enthusiasm) has come through. i still plan to bring with me some of the jewelry the students have made, and i'll sell what i can in america. the only other thing the school needs now is jewelry pliers, which annacleta couldn't get in kumasi. they'll need plenty if all these extra students will be working as well, so i'll use the proceeds from my sales to send back some pliers.

here are a couple pictures.

this is me and annacleta. she is the vocational arts and crafts teacher, responsible for teaching jewelry and embroidery and lots of random craft stuff. she has become a good friend since we've been working together. (oh, and she made both our dresses too, of course.)

this is annacleta helping amina and salamatu with some embroidery work.