Buy Crafts from Refugees and Hosts

Dear All,

I hope this finds you well!

Instead of a blog post this week, I would like to share a fundraising opportunity. One of my assistants, Alex, is part of a refugee-led youth entrepreneurship organization in Imvepi called Iman, which means "faith" in Arabic. They are trying to raise 5 million Ugandan shillings ($1360) to purchase a grain mill as a collective income source.

We did some brainstorming and came up with the idea of selling crafts (baskets, rope, and embroidery) made by refugees and hosts around Imvepi to folks back in the U.S. to both support Alex's group, as well as local artisans. As we move through Imvepi for fieldwork, we have been on the lookout for crafts and have purchased some beautiful items.

I am grateful to all of you for staying tuned with my fieldwork for these many months! Now is an opportunity to have a piece of the field come back to you. Please take a look through the crafts below and see if there are any which you would like to buy. I will bring crafts back to the US in late December and will mail them to you. Selling prices are suggested, though please feel free to donate beyond the listed price if you are able.

To make a purchase, send me a description of the item(s) you would like and your shipping address to shj22@vt.edu. Payments can be made by Venmo (@sarah-juster) or by check (1132 Vesper Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48103). I will work with Alex to purchase the mill for his group either shortly before departing in December or upon returning in March.

Now, check out the amazing crafts!!

Baskets

Colorful Wrapped Baskets ($30 each)

These are made by two young refugee women who attend secondary school, and make baskets in the evenings after school. They are made with dried grass, bundled in colorful wrapping material, and carefully sewn together. There are four different options of different sizes:

Sorghum Stalk Baskets ($25 each)

These baskets are very sturdy and woven by an older refugee woman who takes care of several grandchildren on her own. She is a master basket weaver and I can't say enough about the quality and strength of her baskets.

Borassus Palm and Grewia Mollis Baskets (ranges $20 large to $10 small)

These baskets were woven by a host woman in the village of Yinga on the edge of Imvepi. The baskets are woven from the palm leaves of Borassus aethiopum, and decorated with trim from the bark of Grewia mollis. Both are indigenous species to this area. There are many sizes available and you can choose from 1) open baskets or 2) winnowing baskets, which have an open side.

Embroidery

Embroidered Cloth ($25 small, $40 for full embroidered bed sheet)

These embroidered cloths are used by refugees and hosts to cover trays of food before prayer and serving. They can also be purchased as a full bed sheet.

Rope

Each rope sold at $15

I know that not many of my readers are rearing goats and cattle, but maybe you have another use for strong, hand crafted rope! This rope is made from strands of World Food Programme ration bags, meticulously picked apart and rewoven by our friend Muzee, an older refugee man in Imvepi.

I hope some items will stand out and you will consider purchasing! Send me a message if you have any questions.

Wishing you a lovely end of November and Happy Thanksgiving!