The Hidden Gems of Kenya

Aug 10

As many of you know, our fearless leader, Johnna, recently went on a mission trip to Kenya with her family and friends. We’ve all been dying to sit down with Johnna and hear about this life-changing trip, so we thought how great would it be to share this trip with our Lively community! Johnna’s friends, the Meyers, brought this mission trip to her and her family’s attention. The Meyer’s have been a part of supporting widows and orphans with Summit Durango Church in Kenya for over 5 years. Beyond supporting locally, Lively has always been interested in international volunteer opportunities. This mixed with their friends ties to Kenya, this mission trip was a no brainer for Johnna and her family.

The Jewels of Obaga are widows within the community of Obaga. The Jewels of Obaga got their name from the first missionaries who visited Obaga. The missionaries didn’t see these women as widows, but as beautiful jewels instead. Within the culture in Kenya, widows are viewed as lesser beings because they are faulted for killing their husbands and being single. Kenya has many widows due to the rise of HIV in Western Kenya, which kill men faster than women. The Jewels of Obaga started with only 30 women and they are now up to 1,000 women. The Agutu family and the Durango community have partnered up to support these widows as one whole community. They have worked with these women on how to sell fruits and vegetables from their greenhouses at the market, how to sell jewelry to trade, and how to sell clothes. They have also worked together to create a savings and loan program so these women can invest in projects and take care of their children to give them a better life. This love for the widows and their community began with Thomas Agutu’s mother, who brought these widows into their home to take care of them. His mother’s empathy for these women is what pushed him to create his ministry to help the Jewels of Obaga.

If you have been in our clothing store recently, you have noticed we started selling “Jambo Beads”. “Jambo” means “Hello” in Swahili! Some of the Jewels of Obaga have taken interest in fashion and jewelry making. Everything about Jambo Beads is handmade. These ladies have taken pottery that they bake in the kiln and paint them by hand. The Jewels of Obaga sell these beautiful necklaces at their local market or to visitors. While Johnna was visiting, she told them about Lively and purchased several to sell in our store to support their cause. So far Jambo Beads have been a huge hit in Durango and we hope this is just the beginning! Lively is always finding ways to help empower other women all over the world.