I am so excited for this post.
I’ve been scheming with some wonderful women for the past while, and I’m just
a little bit giddy to announce a new series on the blog: Beautiful Ideas Help the World.
Feature One: The Nakate Project: Uganda, Africa & Brooklyn, New York
Enter the beautiful beaded bracelet giveaway by leaving a comment; read below for the full story.
How do you enter to win this Mkole Wrap Bracelet debuting soon in Nakate’s Fall 2012 line?
Easy!
I’m not a fan of gimmicky give-aways, so I’m not requiring tweets or follows or whatnot, but I’m providing links to all the relevant Nakate information, and I’d love to invite you to follow the project’s story.
To enter the contest, simply leave a comment below answering one of the following questions. (Leave a second comment answering the other question if you’d like to enter twice.)
A) If you could visit any country/region in Africa in the next year, where would you go and why?
B) In the spirit of Nakate’s tagline, “Where will you take Africa?” – Where do you live and where would you wear this beautiful piece?
Giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere. (That means all of you lovely international readers as well!) All you need is a mailing address. Winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. If winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected and notified. See here for full giveaway terms and details.
Giveaway closes at 12:01am Pacific Standard Time (that’s Oregon!), on Wednesday, October 17th. So…you can wait around until just about midnight on October 16th to enter, or you can leave your name and answer below right now…
So what’s the scoop with this whole Beautiful Ideas Help the World bit?
Starting this month, I’ll begin featuring a handful of my favorite organizations
impacting lives all over the globe through beauty, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
The bonus? (Besides more lovely photos and stories for the blog?)
I’m hosting no-strings-attached giveaways to share travel souvenirs (so-to-speak) with you.
I love the internet. The great web of electronic connections yielded a new friendship when I started following Shanley Knox and watching her develop The Nakate Project (thanks to the Twitter recommendations from two other beautiful women I know: Jodi Ettenberg and Roxanne Krystalli).
I read posts. We exchanged emails. I quickly grew to respect the way she gives herself deeply and truly to high heels and fashion AND life-altering community development work, retaining credibility in both worlds without sacrificing heart. Her project birthed out of time spent in Uganda, is based on her own profound ties with women living in the midst of the AIDS crisis in the village of Kakooge.
Her story impressed me on so many levels. “Rather than asking for donations from people that had never seen the things I encountered in Africa,” she, explains how she committed to investing in economic growth of individual women in the Kakooge village by founding a company to sell artisan-crafted goods to buyers all over the world, adding value and creating a sustainable profit stream for these special women in Uganda.
Over this past year, I’ve watched through my digital window as she continues to pour blood, sweat, tears, breathing life into Nakate, and my admiration deepens.
Nakate’s Core Values resonate with me:
We believe that profit is a mechanism for generosity. Profit is a tool…
We believe that the creation of goods other people value does something for the producer of the product. We view our Ugandan artisans as talented artists…
We believe in adding value…As an organization we could get a big donor, and not think about this anymore. If we were to do that the requirement of our organization to produce sustained value would disappear…
We believe generating sustainable income is far better than a quick fix. We are empowering women, and that is intentional. Women with businesses change the local political environment for the better, and we are also helping them start their own businesses in other areas by working with us.
Plus, Shanley lists watching documentaries and cooking tacos with her brothers as serious pastimes.
I love this girl.
I love her work.
And I want you to love Nakate, too.
In April, Shanley shared about hosting her Ugandan business partner, Agnes, on a visit to California. Read it and catch a glimpse of her lovely, evolving life’s story.
***
I had a moment recently on this trip. Ted and I stopped at the the World’s Highest Bungy in South Africa on our twoOregonians Tour the Cape escapades. No, we didn’t jump, but my heart leapt when I saw Charity smile at me the second time.
Charity is a woman who lives a few kilometers away from one of the region’s busiest parking lots. She sets up her wares, selling day after day to earn money to sustain her family, offering tourists like me wooden carvings, leather bracelets, and beaded recycled-paper necklaces. I bought one necklace on our way east toward Jeffereys Bay, and a few days later on our return drive west, I asked Ted to stop back in at the parking lot a second time.
I was so pleased to find her again! She’d made me a kind deal on my first string of colorful beads, and I wanted to snag another string or two to bring home for a few special people.
These necklaces are for sale in shops all over South Africa, but I was most excited to give my money directly to Charity.
***
I can’t bring a souvenir home for every dear friend.
I can’t solve global poverty.
I can’t share every tale I’ve encountered or fund-raise for every project I believe in.
But…
I can celebrate beautiful ideas in this space and broadcast their stories and invite you to join in, too.
Nakate is soon releasing their Fall 2012 line of Ugandan-made jewelry, and I’m excited to be giving away one of these beautiful pieces as a little echo of my own favorite souvenirs from South Africa and my memories of Charity.
“My vision was always that these pieces would serve as a reminder that, no matter where you are, the world is much bigger than your direct experience with it – and it is possible to take that reality with you, wherever you go.” -Shanley Knox
Beaded recycled-paper Mkole Wrap Bracelets from Nakate
This summer, Shanley shared a beautiful post about mementos from travel…
When I was a little girl, my father fascinated me with the stories surrounding items he had from other countries. In his office, there was a hand carved tiger, a Japanese garden stool, a bottle collection, a Tiki man, and above them all, a National Geographic atlas where he used to show me the countries where he had purchased the things I loved to touch and ask about. “Here is Okinawa,” he’d say. “There’s Germany.” Sometimes we talked about Hawaii. Other days we talked about Mexico and Brazil.
As I grew older, my fascination with stories from overseas grew, and my grandfather and father honored my interest with gifts – a bottle here, a set of Japanese farming shoes there. They helped me begin a collection of global pieces that were connected to the stories of my father’s family, and their travels from before I was born. What I loved most about these pieces was the way they reminded me that the world is bigger than my direct experience with it, and I can live in the light of that reality, no matter where I am…
For all you traveling around the world with me this year in my digital suitcase, I’m excited to offer you the chance to wear a little piece of Africa, and carry a few new stories in your heart.
What’s in it for me? The chance to share a little bit of my world with you!
What’s in it for you? A new piece of jewelry and a connection to the women of Kakooge, Uganda.
What’s in it for Nakate? Hopefully a few more excited fans of their lovely fashion pieces and a few more supporters of their long term community development work.
This post is part of my Beautiful Ideas Help the World giveaway series featuring organizations I personally love, impacting lives around globe through beauty, creativity, and entrepreneurship. No tweets or follows or gimmicks are required to participate, but please consider keeping in touch and following along on our respective journeys:
twoOregonians
twoOregonians on Facebook | @twoOregonians
Nakate
Nakate on Facebook | @nakateproject | @shanleyknox | Voye’m
68 Comments
Cheers to you both!! No need to put me in the drawing, if I won this precious treasure I would simply gift it to someone else to enjoy. I did want to say that I am so proud of what you are doing. I supported a lot of these types of things when I lived in Denver and was happy to see ALL the monies go directly back to the women of the villages that made these treasures. My favorite in Denver was Ten Thousand Villages. In Portland I found amazing coffee cup cozies handmade in Kenya from an organization called CTC International providing opportunities to earn monies to help their children and provide them with education, etc. I practically sold them out of these coffee cup cozies. I sent one along with a dear friend (as well as a PeopleTowels) who recently became an ex-pat (my dream) as she travels the world. She will be in Korea in less than 20 days to teach English, so proud of her too. PeopleTowels: green;sustainable.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m cheering you both ON!! I wish more people had the opportunity to do what you are doing. I wish it was ME doing this from across the globe (no wonder I wanted to join the Peace Corps) yet I am happy to do what I can do if only locally.
HUGE hugs from Portland.
Cheers,
Rachel
Rachel, you are a dear! Thank you so much for the kind words, and for doing everything you do to spread word about wonderful projects in Denver, Portland, Korea (!!), and beyond. Sending big hugs right back to you!
xx Bethany
Question #1: I actually have two different areas in Africa that I would like to visit…1) Morocco…I would love to visit all the markets. From the spices to all the fabrics and hand made goods. 2) South Africa is of interest too & from all the beautiful pictures that Bethany & Ted have posted from their visit there, I’m even more intrigued.
Question #2: I’m currently living in Dakar Senegal with my husband. We will be heading back to the states sometime in the next month and from there, who knows….but I know that I would wear this beautiful jewerly all over the world and take Africa with me. I have had some of my very best memories in Africa and I would be quite happy to win something that I could always look at and remember fondly!
Oh, I want to go back to Morocco! We only visited Casablanca for a single day; I was a little bit heartbroken that our plans changed shape so quickly and cut out our planned 4-6 weeks in the country. (Though, to be fair, we loved our substitute adventures in Italy!)
I hope you get to plan a trip! If you want some lovely vicarious travel to Morocco in the meantime, check out a few of my friend Jodi’s posts: http://www.legalnomads.com/2011/10/marrakesh-djemaa-el-fna.html and http://www.legalnomads.com/2012/02/guide-to-marrakesh.html
I can’t wait to hear more from you about life in Senegal. Hugs! xx
What a great idea Bethany and a great cause. The necklace you chose looks great with your green Two Oregonians Tee :)
A) I’ve been wanting to go to Morocco for a long time now but after hearing Samantha rave about South Africa and then seeing all of your and Ted’s adventures, it’s definitely at the top of my list.
Hey Lindsay! Thanks so much : ) I really love it. It’ll be fun to wear it at home, too, as a reminder. I’m glad you entered the giveaway. I wish I could send one to each and every one of my friends.
Yep, Samantha was totally right about S. Africa : )
To be honest, Africa is a place I’ve always daydreamed of visiting. The animals intrigue me, especially the big cats. It would be incredible to see them roaming free. I don’t think there’s one particular place in Africa that I’m more interested in than the others, moreso I’d just love to see a little of all of it. The people, the foods, the communities . . . I’d love all of it. I’m currently spending time between Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, California. I’d wear this gorgeous, brightly colored piece of art everywhere and I’d be so happy to tell people about it – the beautiful woman who makes them and my niece and nephew’s trip and experience of meeting her. It would be an honor. <3
You are a dear : ) xoxo I hope that you get the chance to visit a beautiful corner or two in Africa. After hearing friends share about their time seeing the wildlife truly roaming free in the interior of Tanzania, I’m wishing for a someday-visit.
What an amazing idea, Bethany! I love it. And the bracelet is gorgeous.
Next year I will be visiting Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and hopefully Mozambique and Madagascar. I am going because I absolutely fell in love with the spirit of the continent when I was there in May and June. I will do another overland tour to get to see more of the wonderful highlights of East Africa, volunteer again with the lion conservation project I was at (ALERT – lionalert.org), and hopefully get to do even more volunteer work with communities and local people. Africa is such a beautiful place in the world – i hope it never loses it’s amazingly uplifiting and positive spirit.
Wow, Melissa! What an amazing year you have to look forward to. I especially hope you make it to Madagascar – Ted was really hoping we could visit there on this trip and it just didn’t fit into the itinerary. I’ll be great to see your photos. Thanks so much for entering and sharing!
xx
Bethany
Wonderful post, Bethany!! I’ve been silently following along on your trip. I love your writing, your photos–and your heart! If I won this bracelet, I’d visit either Senegal where Fred’s niece and her Senegalese husband minister to various groups of people there OR Uganda where long-time friends are missionaries. Where would I wear it–I think I’d give it to our Elisabeth in Northern Ireland–it would look great on her! Blessings on the rest of your trip!
Sue! Thank you so much for leaving a note (and for entering, too!) – you are a sweetheart to be reading along. So cool that Fred’s niece and her husband are based in Senegal. We just had a few good friends move to Uganda for the next year; it’s close to our hearts, also. Sending hugs to you!
Bethany
I am excited about this new project and to read the stories you’re going to be featuring!
A.) I would love to visit South Africa, mostly because of all the beautiful pictures, updates and stories you’ve been posting. ;)
Yay! I’ve been thinking of you, especially, as I’ve been stringing these features together. Their projects and missions are right up your alley : )
B.) LOVE THAT BRACELET! Would definitely wear it here in Portland, Oregon for a special night out or with a casual outfit too.
It would looks so cute on you, too! AND – I hope that some special night out on the town could possibly equal a girls’ night when I get home : ) For serious.
Awesome post Bethany, love how you research organizations who are doing amazing work. Can’t wait to hear more about the other ones too!
A.) I’m thinking South Africa sounds like a blast, especially since I’ve been drawn in by all the fun stories and pics through your posts! I’m thinking staying in a tree house would be grand :)
B.) I live in Denver, Colorado, and I picture myself wearing this at one of the delicious restaraunts in the Highlands neighborhood during happy hour or trendy weekend brunch with Micah or a girlfriend. Have to be when the kids aren’t around or they would want to play/wear/drool on it! :)
You’re going to love them, Heather. : ) I can barely wait to post the others!
The tree house caught your fancy? I could totally see that. Such a fun spot. The drive up there reminded me of some of the drives in the Cascade Mountains.
Ha! Yes, I think a night out would be the best. Probably not super-baby safe. (Or is it super baby-safe? I’m not really talking about super-babies; that’s another topic altogether.)
Miss you!
xx
B
Love this post! What a great idea! You should check out my friend who lives in Dubai and started a business similar to this to help build Uganda Schools: http://www.ethicalmuse.com/site/
Question #1: I actually have two different areas in Africa that I would like to visit…1) Morocco… 2) South Africa
Question#2: I am living in Phoenix, AZ , but travel quite extensively, and so I would wear it on my travels throughout my upcoming trips to Spain, Italy, Turkey, Jordan and Mexico
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I just spent a little bit of time browsing her sight; I’d love to connect with her and learn more.
Your upcoming itinerary sounds fabulous! I have such terrific memories from Spain, Italy, and Mexico, and I would love to visit Turkey and Jordan someday. I’m sure this blue treasure would spice up travel-wear very nicely : )
I would love, love, love to go back to Africa. Part of me would want to re-visit Kenya and Rwanda, and part of me definitely wants to visit South Africa since I never made it there the first time.
Is it fair to say that I’d love to visit Africa with you?? I love your spunk, and I can imagine the way you would connect with so many wonderful people along the way… Plus, your photos would be UH-mazing. xoxo B
1) I would visit South Africa to visit the tip of the continent and marvel at the journey by sea those Frenell lenses in Oregon’s lighthouses made almost a century ago.
2) I would wear the lovely jewelry to school and share with my students it’s origins and hope and encourage them to be part of making the world a more beautiful place (call me Mrs. Rumphius Buck).
Full of tidbits! I’ll have to refresh my memory on the Frenell lenses… I got such a kick out of the Oregon Pine story, though. Did you catch that one? ; )
Nice Mrs. Rumphius reference! One of my travel friends also grew up with that story, and it made me so nostalgic when she and I started talking about reading it as kids… : )
Question #1: Oooh, so many choices!! Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro would be an amazing experience that I can only hope to do someday. Morocco is another place that holds so much allure and mystery for me! Either one would be a dream come true. I’ve never set foot inside Africa, so I would be grateful to go anywhere, to be honest. Evan (my husband) was there years ago and would like to go back soon as well.
B- I love this posting! What an amazing thing Shanley is doing. I love her philosophy. The jewelry she is selling is exquisite and for such a good cause. Thanks so much for making us all aware of it!
ps- I REALLY want one. I’ll be investing, come the first week of November…
Let’s go to Morocco together!!!! (Ooops. A few excessive exclamation marks.) I just knew you would love, love, love Nakate’s jewelry and story. (And their shoes, too! And bags!) You get the gist from all my exclamation marks that I love them, too, right? ; )
Miss you, dearie! I can’t wait to see you when I get home.
xoxo
Bets
So happy to have facilitated this connection, darling. I’ve been following your journey (quietly…) and from afar, as I swim in an entirely new world myself. I dream of Africa and Europe and all the Elsewheres all the time… Morocco is high up on my list of places to want to travel to, as is Rwanda. I’d love to bring you, Shanley, and all the beautiful inspiration you create with me!
And what a joy it would be to accompany you! : ) I’m still so grateful that our paths crossed, online and in person, and I hope we can arrange a repeat coffee date someday in the big, beautiful future. Wishing you a beautiful autumn during this new east coast season of life. xx
a) If you could visit any country/region in Africa in the next year, where would you go and why?
I definitely want to visit the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand South Africa . I have read Lawrence Anthony’s books and am in love with his Africa. He was the consumate conservationist and the descriptions from his book the Elephant Whisperer had me hooked at the very beginning. I am so inspired that I am planning a trip within the next couple of years to be able to make this trip in his memory of Africa.
Darece, Elephant Whisperer was highly recommended to us, too! We’ve promised to find a copy when we get home and make a good read of it : ) Wishing you all the best for your trip planning, and thank you so much for entering the Nakate giveaway.
What a wonderful bracelet. I’ve been to Africa a couple of times and the question of where to go is always difficult but I’d say Senegal would be next on my list.
Rhonda, I can appreciate the difficulty of trying to make a decision about where to go in Africa…it’s so vast, so varied. My aunt is living in Senegal right now — I’d love to visit, too : )
I would really love this so I am responding twice:) I’d wear that gorgeous bracelet right here, in Portland, Oregon, and wherever my travels take me
I’m glad you think it’s as lovely as I do! I’d love spotting it on a fellow Portlander out and about in our fair city : ) Thanks so much for participating in the giveaway xx
I would wear my bracelet to the PCC and share with the woman I see the stories from your blog and that they too can provide for themselves and their unborn child in their womb by using their God given talents.
Wonderful, Annette. I love that you are involved in helping the beautiful women of Oregon, and I’m glad you were able to hear about the similar work in South Africa. Thank you so much for entering the Nakate giveaway : ) xoxo
Because I would like to see Victoria Falls, I guess I would like to visit Zambia – Zimbabwe
The bracelet is beautiful!
Oh, I’d love that, too! I was absolutely astonished at the grandeur of Iguazu Falls in South America this year (http://twooregonians.com/2012/04/would-you-suspect-a-waterfall/), and I’ve heard Victoria Falls is just amazing.
I love that you take the time to reply to comments. Your photos are great! Hope you have a fabulous day!
If I keep this beautiful bracelet for myself, I will wear it in beautiful Oregon ;)
however, I may gift it to one of my daughters.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Yay, Oregon! : ) Thanks so much for entering the giveaway, Natalie.
Question #2: I currently live in Eastern WA and would wear this bracelet all over the place. My town desperately needs a bit more global awareness and I think that having a piece like this would provide opportunities for some great discussions to take place.
Aww, I love you, friend! You are such a terrific ambassador to your community. I miss having you in Portland, but Spokane is lucky to have you : ) I love the thought of you wearing this bracelet and sharing about it with your friends and neighbors…
Question #1: I would really like to visit Uganda as I have some good friends that just moved there recently and I am very passionate about their work. Check them out at http://www.secondstories.org! I think it would be amazing to spend some time with them and see what community development is taking place in another corner of the world.
Can we all go visit Clark and Cathy? And Rick and Haley? : )
1. I think I’d pick Zambia, since my cousin is currently working there with the Peace Corps and would make a great tour guide.:) Egypt would be fascinating too, though … or anywhere. :)
That’s the trick – pick a place where someone on the ground can give you real insights! Zambia sounds terrific. Or, like you said, anywhere ; )
2. Well, I wear blue all the time … so I’d pretty much wear that bracelet anywhere.:) Work, special events, etc., etc. Lovely post, by the way. I’m heading over to the Nakate website now to do some browsing!
Thank you, Bethany! Enjoy the browsing : )
If I could visit anywhere in Africa it would be Tanzania. I’ve been dreaming of visiting for years!!! Looooove this giveaway!
Thanks for entering, Andi! And thanks so much for sharing the story of Nakate and this giveaway over on Twitter. So glad to introduce even more people to their beautiful work. xx
I live in Charlotte, NC. I would rock this bracelet every day! :)
The beaded recycled paper bracelets are so colorful and pretty.. I’d totally rock that back home. Africa is high on our list and I’ve always wanted to go see the Great Migration in Tanzania.. bucket list priority! This is just a beautiful giveaway..
Kieu, thanks so much! And thanks for sharing about the project on Twitter, too : ) I’d love to see the Great Migration someday. When we were spending time in Zanzibar, we had dinner with some really lovely travelers who’d just spent time on an amazing walking safari in Tanzania. Their pictures could’ve been lifted straight from National Geographic, and their stories were amazing. How cool would that be? Someday, someday…
I would visit Ethiopia because I have friends who have been many times to adopt kiddos from there and they have the most wonderful stories about Ethiopia!
Thanks for entering, Heather! Your comment makes me smile because we spent a few hours on this trip passing through the airport at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and we met a family flying home to Indiana with four newly adopted brothers and sisters. It was such a short and sweet hello and farewell, but I’ll always remember crossing paths with them and imagine their future years together as a family…
I would wear it as my everyday piece!
I would go to Uganda to see mountain gorillas in the wild. That would be amazing!
Hope you and Ted are enjoying your current adventure (China?) and we are looking forward to seeing you guys in a few months.
Hey Ursula! I’m so glad that you entered : ) We’re in Cambodia this week (staying with Jenny Robinson!) – so many experiences and stories. They’ll never all make it onto the blog, so I’m glad we can look forward to hanging out with you guys in person and catching up on life over another round of Screen Door breakfasts : )
Kia ora!
Firstly – where would I love to visit? Uganda is at the top of my list – I would LOVE to meet my sponsored child – I have just finished sponsoring her, and she is now a qualified hairdresser! Her name is Angella – and I am really pleased that she has been a part of my life. She is profoundly Deaf (I am hearing impaired) so we connected on several levels. Secondly the church I attend has many South Africans and folks from Zimbawae – I would love to visit their homeland. Some are encouraging of this, others not so much… but it would be wonderful to visit those places that I often hear them speak of.
Where would I wear the bracelet? Well I live in New Zealand and am really looking forward to catching up soon! On the one hand I think I would wear it out and about, to work and places as this piece is too beautiful to be kept in a drawer. On the other hand, I immediately think of some of those who come to the Disabled fellowship and think that it would look absolutely beautiful on them… I am not going to say who, just in case they are reading this!
Several years ago I visited Bangladesh, and went to one of the markets where they sold weaving – it was so good to buy from those who made the items, and know that they knew their items were appreciated. I often buy gifts from Trade Aid – a great way of supporting people overseas.
See you soon!
Nessa, what a great story about your sponsor child! How special that you two have been able to connect. I love that you’d want to visit the home-country of people from your church. That’s actually a huge part of the reason we decided to visit South Africa – after meeting so many great South Africans while I was attending Every Nation in New Zealand : )
Can’t wait to return for a visit! xx
what a great organization! south africa has been at the top of our dream list for awhile, but the more we read about other people’s trips to africa, the harder it is to narrow down where we’d want to visit first!
I’m so glad you were able to learn about Nakate and their cool work : ) I know what you mean about the list of dreams growing – the more photos and stories I come across, the more I’d love to experience these various corners of Africa for myself… Thanks so much for entering the giveaway!
What a lovely post! That bracelet is gorgeous and very well done. :) I have yet to visit Africa, so there are many, many countries on the list. I’d say South Africa is top of the list, though. The photos I’ve seen are incredible.
Kim, I hope you get the chance to visit South Africa someday : ) We absolutely loved it, and even after two and a half months, we only scratched the surface! Thanks so much for entering the giveaway. xx
WOW! love the jewelry and LOVE the stories. so empowering! Africa is definitely a continent i need to tackle. i entered a contest to go to Morocco…so maybe there!
i live in Boston, Massachusetts but am a world traveler who really loves to accessorize so i’d be bringing that gorgeous piece everywhere i went including all over Europe next month!
Lola, thank you so much for your kind comment – and best of luck on the Morocco trip! We stopped in for just a few hours when we were traveling by sea; I’d love to visit Morocco for a longer stretch of time and venture inland to the mountains!
Congratulations to our winner, Natalie J Vandenberghe, whose entry was selected via random.org.
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the giveaway, thank you to Shanley at Nakate for her work and her lovely products, and thank you sincerely to each of you who pause to consider intentionally placing your passion and dollars behind beautiful ideas that are actively helping the world.