find the perfect gift…
For yourself or a loved one! A group of artists in Zambia, trained by HealthEd Connect in business and craft skills, produce unique, sustainable, hand-crafted jewelry. Working cooperatively, this endeavor supports their families and community programs. The group calls themselves Bwafwano, which means “working together.”
Each item is hand-crafted and signed by the artist, most of whom are community health worker volunteers. Your purchase supports these female entrepreneurs, as well as our community health programs and schools for orphans and vulnerable children.
Follow this link to purchase! ———>
*Please type the price (listed below) and shipping in the “Amount” section, then choose your item from the dropdown menu.
Chitenge Cloth Items
The chitenge is a traditional Zambian fabric, printed in many colorful designs, and worn like a skirt wrapped around the waist by women. Chitenge fabric is also made into beautiful dresses and shirts for men at local tailor shops. This type of patterned fabric is used in many parts of Africa, but known by different names in various countries. It plays a major role in African dress but it also has many other uses. The chitenge is used to carry babies on your back, as a wrap over clothes to stay clean while cooking or cleaning, and this lovely material was also used to make face masks for COVID-19 prevention.
Chitenge Cloth Bags (left) are reusable, eye-catching, and perfect for grocery runs, beach trips, and everyday items!
All colors - $15
Chitenge Cloth Rice Bags (right) are there for all of your recovery needs! Warm in microwave and apply to sore muscles for quick relief.
All colors - $10
Necklaces
Paper bead necklaces (left) add color to any ensemble! These are made by tightly wrapping paper into a bead shape and sealing each one with a gloss finish. Making these necklaces takes patience and love, which our community health worker friends embody!
One strand beaded necklace - $20
Double strand beaded necklace - $25
Suede necklaces (right) show a modern look with beautiful shapes for all occasions! The metal pieces are fired to add a unique look. These may also be wrapped to wear as a bracelet around your wrist or ankle.
Suede necklace - $30
Bracelets and Earrings
Beautiful pieces to complement your personal style! These paper bead jewelry items are all hand-crafted and signed by the woman who made it!
Single Strand Bracelet - $5
Double Strand Bracelet -$10
Earrings - $10
Silver Jewelry
Looking for something with a bit more shine? We have gorgeous pieces made by a local silversmith in Zambia that will add glam for any event!
Large Africa charm - $20
Small Africa charm - $15
Tree of Life charm - $40
Silver Chain - $20
Gemstone Ring - $40
Adjustable Ring - $25
Earrings - $25
Books
You’ve Settled in My Heart - $25
Dr. Sherri Kirkpatrick shares this heart-warming story of friendships across cultures, a sobering confrontation with abject poverty, a gut-wrenching account of the impact of AIDS, and innumerable humorous incidents encountered during years of international travel. With her nursing background, Sherri has loved, taught, and empowered countless village health workers with life-saving information and basic health trainings. She and her husband, Jac, co-founded HealthEd Connect to expand upon the need and ability to empower women and children through evidence-based health, education, and advocacy.
Mama Madam - $25
This story, written by Sherri Kirkpatrick and illustrated by Marla Blevins, describes the experience of children, Jenny and her brother Alex, whose mother passes away and they go to live with their grandmother. Grieving and struggling to adjust in their new environment, their grandmother enrolls them in a community school where they can attend for free. Jenny and Alex were nervous and shy when they started school, but were soon invited by one of the Kafwa health workers to attend an Isubilo group for children just like them. Through their participation in this group, Jenny and Alex began to feel happy again as they felt loved, wanted, and accepted. Because of the extraordinary love shown by the Kafwa health workers, the children called them “Mama Madam.”
This is a fictional story based on real experiences of the many orphans and vulnerable children enrolled at our three HealthEd Connect sister schools in Zambia, and the life-changing love exemplified by the Kafwa health workers. Distressed by the grief exhibited by orphans in their communities, a group of volunteer Kafwa health workers in Zambia requested a training session related to children’s grief. Responding to their request, HealthEd Connect sponsored a week-long training session facilitated by social workers and professionals specialized in grief support. At the workshop, an Isubilo (meaning “hope” in Chibemba) program for orphans was introduced along with a 13-week manual of activities. The volunteers trained in grief support are called Child Support Specialists. The children themselves named this book when they affectionately began referring to the Child Support Specialist leading the support groups as Mama Madam.