Three miles after we got off the bus, walking along a rough and rocky road, my daughter and I stopped in front of Azucena's little shop along the single road in her little village. She was there, working on a picture she had painted on a piece of bark. She welcomed us warmly, and seeing our red, sweaty faces, brought us cold, creamy papaya smoothies. We sat chatting on handmade wooden chairs, surrounded by local paintings covering the walls, and shelves full of anything that might be desired by a rural Nicaraguan household: sugar, laundry soap, salt, coffee... |
I had ordered forty pairs of "chapas" (earrings) from her, and she had them ready, plus several other pairs she insisted on giving me. It was fun to examine them, each pair different from the others; some were delicate and almost Victorian in feel, some were simple and modern. |
As we talked, a few children stopped by on errands from their mothers, and a friend stopped by to chat, taking a break from harvesting coffee. Oh, yes, coffee! Azucena grabbed a bag of local, freshly-ground coffee and gave it to me to take back home with me. We got talking about our Jewels for Schools program. I told Azucena that I donate 20% of my retail sales to educational programs in the community where the jewelry was made. I asked her what she knew of the educational needs in her village. Turns out, she knows a lot, and is somewhat of a local advocate for education. From her position there on the street, she sees which kids are in school, and which ones aren't. In fact, she said, that boy she just waved to, Norman, should be in high school. He's a bright kid, but his parents can't afford the uniform, books, and transportation for him to attend the closest secondary school in town, about ten miles away (three miles walking, and seven by bus). A few dollars a month could make the difference between a future of poverty and a professional career for a kid like that.
It was one of those moments when you realize that it's not all about the earrings. It's about finding ways to support people who want to, and are able to help their neighbors better than an outsider ever could, because they see that bright kid passing by on a school day and know why he isn't in school.
Azucena was so excited to find a way that she can help kids like Norman finish his education! And since that time, she has started a "Saturday School," for kids who can't afford to go to school in town every day, to at least pick up some of the basics on weekends in their own community. She's even more "in the know" about which families need help, and which kids are the most likely to make use of a secondary education, if they could afford it. She's going to administer our Jewels for Schools program in her community, and I can't think of a better person to do it! To support this program in a natural, sustainable way, shop Azucena's one-of-a-kind earrings.
It was one of those moments when you realize that it's not all about the earrings. It's about finding ways to support people who want to, and are able to help their neighbors better than an outsider ever could, because they see that bright kid passing by on a school day and know why he isn't in school.
Azucena was so excited to find a way that she can help kids like Norman finish his education! And since that time, she has started a "Saturday School," for kids who can't afford to go to school in town every day, to at least pick up some of the basics on weekends in their own community. She's even more "in the know" about which families need help, and which kids are the most likely to make use of a secondary education, if they could afford it. She's going to administer our Jewels for Schools program in her community, and I can't think of a better person to do it! To support this program in a natural, sustainable way, shop Azucena's one-of-a-kind earrings.