Care of your jewelry? Yes, you got me right! How do you take care of your jewelry? Do you care for it at all? Anything that is not well taken care of will not
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Where Did Jewelry Come From?
Origin of Jewelry Good question indeed, where did jewelry come from? What is the origin of Jewelry? It all began when man first walked the earth; being a hunter, man would collect trophies from his hunting sprees and would often wear them to show prowess and bravery. These trophies comprised of teeth from the hunt, hide, horns, bones and even claws! The villagers in that day would give respect to a hunter who would come from hunting wearing adornments of fierce animals. The more the hunter wore them the more privileges he received in the village! Often times, the hunter would wear these adornments in his next quest believing they would bring him good luck. With time, the early societies adopted this and would wear jewelry for protection against bad luck or illnesses. How Jewelry Came Into Being Jewelry then evolved and was made into symbols that the wearers believed would bring good fortune over their lives, for instance in wealth, love, fertility to name a few. Ancient jewelry was also made from feathers, porcupine quill, shells, colourful curved stones or pebbles, wood and animal skin. As time went by, the meaning of jewelry begun to change and it becameRead More…
Why We Do What We Do; Design and Create Handmade Jewelry
Why do we do what we do? We design and create handmade Jewelry for many reasons, among them is the joy we draw from envisioning a design and bringing it to reality. Handmade Jewelry has been in existence time in memorial and has been the perfect choice to give away as gifts. Giving away beaded jewelry as gifts to yourself or to a loved one, be they your mother, sister, daughter, daughter in love, friend can be very satisfying. This is because beaded Jewelry brings joy to the person receiving it, giving smiles and delight. After all, isn’t this the essence of true love? We delight in providing you with beaded jewelry for various occasions; from fragile, tiny beaded brass strands for formal wear, chunky multi colored necklaces and bracelets to match your African Dress Code, to shiny beaded crystal pieces for informal parties and evening wear. Although we create numerous pieces at times from the same pattern, no two crafts are exactly the same. Each piece will vary according to color, size, shape and style. This makes us treasure the unique originality of the pieces we create for you. Each Handmade Design Carries A Valuable Message Handmade Jewelry meansRead More…
Selecting Your Jewelry; How To Get It Right
Selecting your jewelry today can be quite a daunting task given that there are so many options to choose from out there with such a wide variety and so many Types Of Jewelry for one to select from! Yet, jewelry is an important part of our dress up; it adds that little something in our outlook and helps polish our overall look. In order to feel great about yourself and to enhance your self esteem as you step out in style, ensure you are comfortable with the jewelry you are wearing. So how do you do this? Identify What Makes You Tick While Selecting What do you like? What catches your eye as you visit jewelry stores? Is it vintage, modern, custom, designer jewelry or a mixture of all? It is most likely that the pieces that attract your attention are those that match your wardrobe. Ensure Your Selection blends well with your outfits You certainly don’t want to make a purchase of pieces that won’t match well with any of your cloths! Make a point of matching your selection with the outfits you have in your wardrobe. The best way to do this is, is to have your outfitsRead More…
Jewelry Today
Today’s jewelry may not be made from precious metals such as gold, silver and precious gems as common in the past but consists of mostly costume jewelry which incorporates a variety of materials including crystals, acrylic, leather and semi precious stones. Could it be because today’s woman is more industrious and seemingly always on the go?
The Story of Jewelry in Africa
The story of jewelry in Africa dates back to over 40,000 years ago, sounds ancient, right? This story is made more intriguing because the existence of jewelry in Africa was largely dependent on what was available in a particular area as well as on the culture and traditions of a people. The Origin of Jewelry came about from the need for identification, self esteem, recognition and in some cases, the need to pamper self. Thus most of the jewelry was created from organic materials such as husks, bones, nuts, feathers, animal hair, curved stones, egg shells to name a few. In the past, jewelry in Africa was used in exchange for food and clothing. Cowry shells, which symbolized female fertility, were known for their resilience thus used for trade, unfortunately they were also used in slave trade. So How Is It Like In Africa? In Africa, jewelry has a mystic unspoken language derived from its culture, status and past victories and conquests. This varies in different parts of Africa, for instance in some parts of West Africa, beads are restrained to rulers yet in Central Africa, beads express privilege. In East Africa, anyone can wear beaded ornaments. Before its ban,Read More…
An Enjoyable Artisans Training Experience
I was delighted to be among those selected to attend a 3 day Artisans Training session in Nairobi.
This training, whose emphasis was on Export Strategy and Market Readiness, was made possible by ITC She Trades and UKAID in collaboration with Ubunifu Kenya Association on 10th to 12 April 2019.
Ubunifu Kenya Association was formed in 2016 by a group of small and micro entrepreneurs who came together to network and boost the performance of their products locally and internationally. Their mission is to produce and market high quality handmade products, create jobs and improve livelihoods for its members.
Happy New Year?
Happy New Year? Happy New Year? Good question; how happy is this New Year? What is so happy about it? The beginning of a new year always brings with it faith, hope and envisions for good things lined up ahead in the coming months. But then again, there are always two sides to a coin. This year to some may not appear as happy, after all, maybe due to the fact that the last quarter of 2018 came with sad, grievous moments whose repercussions are still being felt in this New Year. This may have been due to a job loss, a marriage separation or divorce, loss of a dear one or the failure to capture a big business opportunity. What makes a year happy anyway? Why call the year ‘happy’? What is happiness? Happiness is an inner quality; a state of mind. In Psychology, happiness is the label for a family of pleasant emotions such as joy, satisfaction, gratification, amusement, triumph or euphoria. You may have all the riches in the world and all sorts of material things, but without peace of mind, you may not be happy. Yet again, you could have immense peace of mind with nothingRead More…
Pan African Christian Women Alliance EXPO 2018
The Pan African Christian Women Alliance EXPO 2018 was held on 16th June 2018 at the ACK Cathedral Site, Voi – Kenya. Pan African Christian Women Alliance is an interdenominational association that aims to empower women in matters pertaining to their family life, church and civil society through educational programs, business training, rights dissemination, evangelism and discipleship. The Alliance is committed to raising awareness about gender based violence and works to ensure not only the well being of the victims but also the restoration of their dignity. Pan African Christian Women Alliance (PACWA) aims to enable Christian women stand and defend biblical values of equality and justice. The theme of the Pan African Christian Women Alliance EXPO 2018 was to “Empower Women in Small Micro Enterprises” through a training session as well as a session of display of their wares to attendants. My Experience at the Pan African Christian Women Alliance EXPO 2018 There is something exciting about attending a function for the very first time. This was the anxiety I was experiencing on 16th June 2018 as a participant in the Pan African Christian Women Alliance EXPO 2018 an expo geared towards empowering me as a woman in business.Read More…
Superb WFAD Regional Conference held in Nairobi Kenya
I recently had the privilege of attending a Regional Conference hosted by World Federation Against Drugs, WFAD, in Nairobi Kenya. The two day conference held on 10th and 11th of February was well organized depicting the amount of work that was put in by the organizers to make it a success. The conference doors opened with welcome remarks from the WFAD Secretary General, Ms Linda Nilsson who was also the day’s moderator. A succession of speakers then followed with a brief discussion on the UNGASS outcome document, starting with the International President of WFAD, Mr. S Carlsson followed by remarks from Mr. Victor Okioma, the CEO NACADA. Mr. George Ochieng, the Executive Director of Slum Child Foundation emphasized on the need for prevention, education, treatment, recovery and integration work being done by the civil society and for the need to move these efforts to the next level. Creative illustrations were put across by Mr. Fayzal Sulliman, the Program Coordinator, UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa while touching on the subject of prevention. Ms. Jenna Philippe then gave us an elaborate illustration on development link to Vienna NGO Market place. A lot of knowledge was imparted here including the fact thatRead More…
Cost of Volunteering
It is important to consider the cost of volunteering before venturing into a volunteering experience. One needs to ask one self and get answers to questions like; what will it cost me to volunteer? For how long will my volunteering experience last? Where am I going? What kind of concessions are available in other programs and how can I select the best suited for my pocket? Is Considering the Cost of Volunteering Necessary? Various volunteering programs offer different packages for volunteering. These packages have varied costs depending on choice of volunteering destination made. Other considerations such as place of destination, accommodation, meals and activities to engage in are all important because they cost money. For instance the fact that commuting to and from the place of volunteering is not free means one needs to consider how much this transport cost is and plan accordingly. What should you put into consideration while planning to volunteer abroad or within your country? Do a self search to determine where you want to volunteer. Is it in Africa, India, South America or within your country of residence? Research on the most cost effective program that suits your pocket as well as you as anRead More…
Start of a New Year
Hope, exhilaration and a sense of a new breath of air usually marks the start of a new year. Isn’t it interesting how life has a way of renewing itself every so often? If it’s not the start of a new year every cycle of 12 months, it’s the start of a new month, a new week or even a new day! Remember the fresh start of a new day? The clean breath of air, with the birds chirping in the early dawn not forgetting the early morning dew that adds to the sparkling new day…It is magical just thinking of it! This same thrill comes along with the start of a new year…anticipation of good things ahead. Yet, no doubt, every year has its own challenges, milestones and big wins! There are no new years that are ever the same. New Year 2016 is gone forever, never to return again… We start a new chapter today…we start a new year. How can you ensure that it really becomes the start of a new year? Start by removing the seasonal Christmas decorations. If you leave them on for too long, you won’t really sense the brand new start of aRead More…
This Festive Season
This Festive Season By D Nyambu This Festive Season brings with it mixed feelings. What with the hype of activities and deciding where to go, what not to do…it is only prudent in the midst of all this, to take a minute and think first before making any rash moves. What to Think About This Festive Season So what should be your line of thought this festive season as you join in in the hype of activities surrounding you? Think about how much you are ready to spend As you think about this keep in mind that the New Year is coming and fees and bills will still need to be paid! Where can you go for this festive season with how much you have? Get a globe map and spin it around, where could what you have take you? Is what you have capable of taking you round the world and back? If not, come back and face reality! Select a destination that fits the much you have at hand, even if that destination is right there in your surroundings with friends and family! What activities will you engage in while at your destination? You need to put inRead More…
Volunteering Abroad
If learning a new language, being in the midst of diverse cultures or seeing new places seems appealing, then volunteering abroad is for you. Volunteering abroad provides a variety of opportunities to young and old. Among the reasons why people opt to volunteer abroad include; The need to visit new places. This comes with the excitement of seeing places never imagined before, some of them with magical appeal and sceneries. This need is a good enough reason to volunteering abroad as it provides a perfect chance to see new places while making a difference in people’s lives. Volunteering abroad helps break the monotony of being in one town, country or continent for a very long time thus a different routine brings in some fresh breath to life. Studying also comes with opportunities to volunteer abroad as interns or international students. Some Negative Perceptions to Volunteering Abroad and Overcoming Them The reality of disease infested plights of Africa, Cambodia, India or any other country may deter many from taking the step to volunteer abroad. The challenge of dealing with undeveloped infrastructure and a population that has little knowledge or care on environmental emissions and how to manage it may make oneRead More…
How to Participate in a Volunteer-ship Program in Your Community
How to Participate in a Volunteer-ship Program By G Wakesho Ever wondered how to participate in a Volunteer-ship Program in your community? There are quite a number of organizations that provide volunteer opportunities in different fields for people interested in making a difference in the society. Most volunteers receive no payment for their services although there are quite a number of Benefits for Volunteering one of them being getting on the job experience in return for the good deed. If you wish to participate as a volunteer in your community or society, how would you go about it? Steps to take while considering participating in a Volunteer-ship Program Evaluate Yourself – Start by doing a self-search within yourself in order to identify the type of organization you wish to volunteer in. Whether it’s an organization that deals in healthcare for instance, AMREF or one that deals in maintenance of peace e.g. The United Nations. After identifying the type of organization you would like to volunteer in, you could then ask yourself “what do I want to achieve?” This will help you evaluate your main goal for joining the volunteer-ship program. Would it be as a means to help better theRead More…
What are the Benefits of Volunteering?
Are there really any benefits of volunteering? What are they? Hard as this may sound, volunteering has benefits for the volunteer! It is not easy to give your time, energy and even money to the less fortunate in society for no pay at all. Yet day in day out thousands of people from all over the world give themselves to charity work. Why do they do it? What is in it for them? Well, here’s some insight as to what is in it for them… For one, volunteers get to learn a new skill while volunteering, something they wouldn’t do while sitting idle at home! What exactly does it mean to volunteer? What is Volunteering? This is the giving of one’s time, skills and energy towards a certain course without getting paid. While volunteering, one can add new skills acquisition to their CV as on the job experience. Imagine learning how to create a Podcast for advocacy purposes or how to create and install bio energy for community members? These are skills that could even be used to create self employment, and yet you did not really pay to learn them except maybe with your energy and time, which wasRead More…
What Is Volunteering?
What comes to mind when you hear of the word ‘Volunteering’? What is volunteering? Volunteering is an eager desire to do some good through the contribution of time, energy and skills and yet not expecting any sort of payment or reimbursement in return for the effort. What kind of people volunteer? Are there special kind of people who can do volunteer work? Certainly not! Anyone from all ages, race or creed can volunteer. Volunteer work ranges from helping with feeding the children in a home or orphanage to working in IT department in an office. Why Volunteer? Why would anyone volunteer their services and not get paid at all? Young people just out of school may volunteer their time and energy in order to gain on the job experience, enhance their careers or even learn a new skill that will enable them enter a job market with ease! Older folks on the other hand may volunteer in order to keep themselves busy, give back to the community, perform some initial research before commencing a new business, and polish their skills before re-entering the job market or simply as a way of networking! What is the Value of Volunteer Work? CanRead More…
Self Leadership Lifeskills for Growth and Innovation
Self leadership as a life skill of growth and innovation is the act of influencing and motivating oneself by developing personal leadership strategies to constantly deliver enormous desired results. In recent times, work has undergone a paradigm shift in that it has become more flexible and information based as opposed to its previous rigidly definition. The traditional leadership style that emphasized on strict administrative instructions and control is slowly being replaced by self leadership concept of self management as expanded by Manz (1983). Manz emphasized that self leadership is the process of originating voluntary efforts and contribution to an organization in the personal level of the organization unlike a leaders influence. Self leadership is all about self observation and management and it has an impact in all aspects of our lives including health, career and relationships. Simply stated, self leadership is exerting influence on yourself to achieve your objectives. A good leader is one who has embraced and mastered the art of self leadership skills first before he can lead others. Self Leadership Lifeskills that develop growth and innovation There are three self leadership life skills that develop growth and innovation in leaders. These skills enhance personal effectiveness thus produceRead More…
Did You Know The Power of Attraction or Falling in Love?
Do You Know The Power of Attraction or Falling in Love? By D Nyambu Did you know that the power of attraction or falling in love, as is commonly known, is responsible for the multiplication of the human race? If there was no falling in love the human race would probably be extinct! Imagine that! They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, a term that would make a lot of sense if you sat somewhere for half an hour watching couples walk by and you constantly asked yourself, what in the world did this beautiful girl see in this not so handsome guy? ‘Not so handsome guy’ in your own eyes, is in the girl’s eyes the most handsome man she has ever seen in her whole life! So what causes the power of attraction or falling in love? What is the mystic behind it? Like poles repel and unlike poles attract, so the saying goes. Research shows that the power of attraction is most likely to occur where couples have certain completely different characteristics or traits. In fact, some say the attraction occurs mainly due to a person admiring some traits he sees in a ladyRead More…
How Costly Love Is
Sincerely, is love costly? How costly is love? Better yet, what is love? They say love is an emotion. It may be defined as a feeling, an attitude or a state of affection. It is a strong emotional attraction with a personal attachment to a person, being or thing. Love is normally found deep in your heart. As you’ve noticed, it is difficult to define love mainly because love is better experienced than defined. We experience love when it is given freely to us in acts of kindness, generosity, self sacrifice and denial of certain luxuries. Parents usually sacrifice a lot for their children be it during child bearing or rearing until the child attains age of maturity. Even at maturity, some parents still make sacrifices for their adult children because of love. Love costs something…it may cause pain, tears or joy. Just how costly is Love? All the best things in life are free; air, life, rain water, breath, sunshine, the beauty of the universe, the ocean to name a few. These are things that would adversely affect life on earth if a small percentage of their content were to be altered. Yet we get them for free inRead More…
Did You Know That King Solomon Was The Wisest Man That Ever Lived?
Did you know that King Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived? He created 3,000 proverbs and composed 1,005 songs! Now, who has beaten that record in creating wise sayings or in individual song composition in this day and age? Anyone you know? King Solomon was the second born son of King David and his wife Bathsheba. He reigned as King of Israel in circa 970 to 931 BC. He became King at a very young age after his father’s death. Knowing the immense task of leadership placed on his shoulder to rule over his father’s empire, he besought God, creator of heaven and earth, for wisdom on how to go about it. According to the Bible, God not only granted King Solomon his request, but He also gave him immense wealth and riches! King Solomon’s Wisdom and Wealth They say that King Solomon was very knowledgeable; he could talk about all kinds of plant life, describing them and how they functioned; he taught about animals, birds, reptiles and all kinds of fish. He was so wise that several Kings from many different nations would pay him a visit or send their leaders to sit and listen to KingRead More…
Is Wisdom a Must Have Life Skill Requiring Knowledge, Understanding and Insight?
Is Wisdom a Must Have Life Skill Requiring Knowledge, Understanding and Insight? Wisdom is a must have life skill requiring knowledge, understanding and insight. Wisdom is amongst the rarest attributes or life skills acquired later in life. They say white haired folks are wise. So what happens if your genes cause you to have white hair at the age of 20, does it mean you are wise? What is wisdom? Some people define wisdom as the ability to judge correctly and follow the best course of action based on knowledge, understanding and insight. After much research and thought, I believe the best definition of wisdom is that, wisdom is the ability to use your knowledge, understanding and intelligence to think first in such a way that your common sense takes the better judgment of the course of action to take in life, thus enabling you make choices that are not only beneficial but also productive. For one to think first before taking a course of action is to practice some form of wisdom. Thinking usually comes in many forms and may mean reflecting on the past occurrences or being visionary, that is, thinking of the future. Learning from past experiencesRead More…
Is Having The Attitude of Gratitude in Life a Skill?
Is Having The Attitude of Gratitude in Life a Skill? By D Nyambu Is having the attitude of gratitude in life a skill that can be learned? Most certainly, the attitude of gratitude is a skill that can be learned in life. From an early age, a child is taught to say “Thank You” for the little gifts that he or she receives. Cultivating a grateful character is one of the traits psychologist says brings ‘happiness’ to one’s life. People respond towards you better if you are a grateful person. Better still; good things tend to follow people who show gratitude for the smallest of gestures. How does having an attitude of gratitude skill attract good things in life? Showing gratitude to someone tends to bring a warm feeling in their heart. They feel loved and appreciated and are more comfortable hanging around you. This in turn builds your own self worth propelling your self esteem thus resulting to more positive energy. You will then become a happier person, will work better, produce results thus be prone to getting a promotion or become a success in your business venture. Does one acquire the attitude of gratitude skill in life overnight?Read More…
Learn 5 Skills To Help You Forget Past Hurts In Life
Learn 5 Skills To Help You Forget Past Hurts in Life Are there skills that can help one forget past hurts in life? Over sixty percent of the human brain consists of a jelly-like substance often referred to as soft tofu or gelatin. The brain is essentially plastic and is constantly re-wiring itself hence the reason why it never loses its ability to learn new things and to change in structure. They say forgetting is good for your brain as deleting unnecessary information enables your nervous system preserve its plasticity. No wonder health experts say forgetting past hurts is beneficial to you and to your health! Sometimes in life certain events take place that make us feel really bad. These unpleasant experiences are painful to remember and much as we are better off not recalling them, they often invade our subconscious minds again and again reminding us of the incident. A broken relationship, a failed business or a harsh word spoken in childhood, are just a few examples of past hurts best forgotten. There is no need to brood, complain and blame the other party or make life difficult for people around you in an attempt to try and forgetRead More…
Why 2016 Should Be the Best Year in Your Life
Why 2016 Should Be the Best Year in Your Life Indeed, why should 2016 be the best year of your life? For some reason, there is a lot of high expectation about 2016. Everybody I know says ‘this is the year that is going to be like no other year!’ Agreed, there is some truth in that statement. 2016 can never resemble any other year…it is simply different! For one, it is a leap year. And for another, it has a 6 at the tail end of its four figure composition. It is a year like no other… So why should 2016 be the best year of your life? Is it because it is a leap year? Certainly not! This year is going to be different from any other year you have ever seen in your life before, because YOU are going to make it different. How you may ask? By simply determining to make it different! Here is how I can assist you a tiny bit to make 2016 different… In order for this year to be different, you may want to consider the following; Forgetting the Past Set Goals Plan Don’t Procastinate Review and Evaluate Forgetting the PastRead More…
Did You Know About Liberal Liberia
Did You Know About Liberia? Liberal Liberia The name Liberia means liberty. Do you know that Liberia was the first African state to become an independent Republic? This name was given because the nation was created as a homeland for freed American slaves. In 1822, a group of elite Americans formed American Colonization Society (ACS) whose aim was to help free African American slaves by immigrating them to West Africa. Not everyone sided with them, though. Some people were opposed to this notion saying it was not possible to have an African American colony in Africa. This did not deter the ACS; their agenda gained momentum. This resulted in over twelve thousand slaves being voluntarily relocated to the then Cape Mesuredo, now modern day Monrovia over a forty year period. The American emigrants were excited to go back to Africa to start a new life of freedom but unfortunately the natives were not very welcoming. They insisted on calling the new comers ‘black white men’ and would often attack the new settlers. This forced the settlers to build fortifications around them for protection against the hostile local tribes. As if that was not enough, the new comers came face toRead More…
The Vatican City State
The Vatican City State The Vatican City State is the smallest country in the world. It measures 44 hectares and has a population of just over 800 people. The Vatican has its own Post Office and prints its own stamps. Its mail system, regarded as more efficient than the Italian Mail, is extensively used by Romans. Did you know that the Vatican also has a radio station that broadcasts in 20 languages throughout the world? It issues its own passports and stamps its own coin, the €1 coin! Imagine that, small a country as it is! The €1 coin is a most sort out coin among collectors as it is in high demand. It has the portrait of the present Pope! The Vatican is home to the Pope, who is also the head of state. The Vatican is governed as an absolute Monarchy and has its own flag and anthem. The Pope is elected through popular votes and has complete judicial, legislative and executive control over the Vatican state. Was There a Time a Female Pope was elected? Indeed, was there a period in time that a female Pope was elected? From 16th Century documentation, evidence shows that after PopeRead More…
Did You Know?
Biggest Continent in the World
Three Endangered Species in Asia
Three Endangered Species in Asia By D Nyambu An endangered species is an organism or animal that is threatened by extinction. An animal becomes extinct when it disappears from the face of the earth. A good example of an extinct animal is the Dinosaur. Species become endangered for two reasons; Loss of Habitat and Loss of Genetic Variation. A loss of habitat may occur due to natural causes or through human activity. A habitat is a place where animals or organisms find food and rise their young ones who will hopefully find space to grow, spread and live their lives. Human beings have taken up a lot of space on planet earth as their population keeps growing. They clear vegetation and forests for construction of houses for their families and for agriculture as well as for industrial development. They draw water from rivers for crop irrigation and pollute the natural landscapes with pesticides and chemicals from industrial wastes. This results in loss of habitat for the mammals or organisms thus causing their extinction as they have nowhere to live and raise their young ones. Loss of Genetic Variation is a variety found within a species. It allows for species toRead More…
Did You Know?
A country with pyramids more than Egypt
