Jewelry Graduates

Since the J127 jewelry graduation last month, all five graduates have received jobs. Two have been employed by Jimani Collections, a jewelry company here in Nairobi, Kenya that "aims to empower women through education, innovation, and design." The graduates have been working with Jimani for about a month now. It has been neat for me to see them learn and work with Jimani. Here I am pictured with three of the Jimani employees. Lydiah (on my left) and Ester (on the far right) are the two J127 graduates with Jimani Collections.

Three of the J127 graduates have started their own small co-op jewelry business in the backyard of Grace's house. Veronica, Penina, and Grace pictured on the left are sitting in front of their new business. This group has started working on their first large order of earrings that will be sold in the US.

I am proud of where each of these women are now and can't wait to see what else is in store. Love that they are all using the skills they learned in the training program. I look forward to continue following up with each of them in the near future. 

Jewelry Graduation

This month we at James 127 Foundation graduated our first jewelry training program! It was a wonderful time of celebrating all the graduates have accomplished and what they had learned in the past ten months of the class. As most Kenyan graduates go, it was a great time of celebration.

All of the J127, Jimani, and Judith&James women were there to be join the graduation. In addition the families of the graduates came. We had a few speakers including my dad and Anna Taylor, founder of James 127 Foundation. We also had a powerful time of prayer. The graduates danced so free, happier than I have ever seen them before. It gave me so much joy to see. Below is a video of the five graduates dancing. 

I am very excited to see what lies ahead of their futures. My hope is that each of the jewelry graduates can take what they learned in training and use it to make a difference in their lives, families, and communities. They will be missed but I look forward to visiting them after they go. Please pray for these five ladies as they make the transition out of the Kasarani house to find local jewelry work.

Mcedo school expansion

Every year Rosslyn Academy, my former school in Nairobi, does a Christmas Project to bless local ministries in Kenya. This school year, they chose Mcedo school as the main recipient. Mcedo is a school in the Mathare slum that my family and I have worked closely with for the past 8 years. We have seen God mightily bless and provide for this school. Mcedo has a heart for orphans and provides housing and schooling for children that attend the school. They also have very good sports teams, specifically girls soccer team. These athletic teams provide scholarships and education when they otherwise would not be in school.

Rosslyn raised over one million Kenya shillings (around $11,000USD) to go towards expansions in the school. These include building new tables and chairs for the preschool and kindergarten class, building more bathrooms and raising the water tank, repairing the kitchen, and providing water faucets inside the school grounds.

Here is a picture of the assembly when the money was presented to Mcedo as a large check. All the students at Rosslyn gathered together to present the Christmas Project donations. In the middle are Pastor Benedict, the school principal and a few of the Mcedo students who came to perform a dance as a thank you to Rosslyn. Pictured on the right is the Rosslyn Christmas project committee.

I have made several visits to the Mcedo school since they received their money for renovations. Mcedo is now finished with the additions to the school. It has been very neat to physically see where the money has gone and the difference it has made!

On the right are pictures of just a few of the changes. The first picture is a few of the young kids drinking the water out of the new water faucets located outside of the kitchen. Because of this new water installation, Mcedo is now able to have running water accessible inside the school grounds. Previously, students and teachers had to walk outside to retrieve water.

On the bottom right is a picture of the kindergarten classroom with brand new wooden desks and chairs. Those children are so eager to learn and the cutest little students.

A huge thank you to Rosslyn Academy for their large donation of money from their Christmas Project. You made a huge impact on the Mcedo school and in the community of the Mathare slum.

Benson speaking

Yesterday we had Rev. Benson come speak to us about business from a Christian perspective. All the James 127 foundation trainees and teachers, Jimani employees, and Judith & James employees came together to learn. We also invited our Kenya committee members to join us. In addition a few women from the Mathare slum came to join us also. A full house of more than 30 women! It was a great time learning about things like tithing, budgets, and borrowing money. Throughout the whole morning Benson incorporated Scripture into his teaching. He did a great job, speaking mostly in Kiswahili so the women could understand and interacting with them with plenty of discussion questions. At the end of his talk, he gave each of the ladies a Bible. 

I love that not only can we provide training or a job for them but also teach them practical skills they can use. It was especially geared towards the sewing and jewelry students. When they graduate from our training program, we hope they will either find jobs or start their own small businesses using the skills they have learned. I hope teachings such as this one will help them as they look to their future beyond graduation, planning about their future businesses. 

J127 2015 update

Hi all! It's been a while since I've updated my blog but I wanted to share with you an update of the James 127 Foundation training programs from 2015. Both the jewelry and sewing classes have been making a lot of progress these past couple months.

The jewelry class is learning work with metal. They have made many earrings, bracelets, and rings out of aluminum and brass metal. On the right is a picture of the trainees curving the handmade aluminum metal pieces to make a bracelet. 

The sewing trainees completed their basic sewing skills grade III test (their first of three big exams) and finished learning how to make suit jackets. Next, they will be making suit pants and skirts. On the picture to the left is the morning sewing class making their jackets.

Below is a picture of me wearing one of the black jackets the sewing class made. I loved it and wanted to keep it though they said it is too big on me. Penina is also pictured hammering on the brass.

    

Birthday celebrations

I love celebrating birthdays! So a few months ago I decided to have a monthly birthday celebration for all who had a birthday that month. We celebrate on the last Friday of each the month right after lunch. It has been such fun so far! We have a little party with chocolate cake and sodas. Both are very rare for these ladies, such a treat for them! Last week was extra special for the women because they got to celebrate my birthday! Every day that week, the women reminded me that the birthday is coming.

I love it when we sing Happy Birthday. And getting to hear their happy voices singing. I introduced them to our tradition of blowing out candles at the end of the song. They taught me a tradition of taking turns cutting your own cake while everyone sings, "Cut-a, cut-a!"

On the left is a picture of me last week, the October birthday celebration. Judith is cutting the cake, and Mama Morine hands out soda. While I not-so-sneakily steal a little cake.

At the end of September, we celebrated Mama Morine's birthday (pictured on the right). She is our lovely cook and such a joy. Her joy radiates out of her daily. She absolutely loved the party of "cakes and cokes." I am so thankful for her.

August was the first month I started these monthly birthday parties. We celebrated the birthdays of Seline and Alice (pictured below). They are both students in our sewing training programs. We all had a fun time. 

This has been such a fun tradition that all look forward to every month. Looking forward to our next birthday celebration! 

October update

This autumn has brought a new season for me, taking on a greater role to fulfill with more responsibilities. I am currently the only person locally in Kenya representing both James 127 Foundation and Judith & James. In addition, I am representing Jimani Collections as a go-to person.

I am continually thankful for these opportunities and responsibilities this presents. It has kept me busy, even busier than I was previously. I also continue to volunteer in my spare time at local orphanages and slums. Below is a picture of my mom and I in the Kibera slums, one of the largest slum in the world. On the right I am pictures with some of the kids at Mcedo school in the Mathare slum.

 


One of my favorite parts of what I do is continuing to build relationships with the staff, students, and employees at our Kasarani house. Being part of their lives and seeing the difference and change in them. Seeing joy spread through laughter or a smile. While learning jewelry or sewing. Below are some of the sewing and jewelry students.