Meet Jessica

Meet Jessica

Why did I decide to intern at Shopping for a Change?

Heading towards my senior year of high school, I’ve collected a long list of internships and office work to put in my back pocket. I spent my summers typing away in company cubicles and working behind counters in various offices. Although I continue to appreciate the knowledge I’ve gained from these experiences, I wanted to do something different the summer before my final year of high school. I had talked to people who had interned at Shopping for a Change previously and decided to give it a try. On my first day, I went up to

Stacey’s (my employer) house and rang the doorbell. While I had at first tried to act overly formal and mature like I've had to do in my other internships, my job at SFAC turned out to be casual and more enjoyable than I had ever expected. After only one month of working here, I can now honestly say that I’m learning and making more of a difference than I ever had at any other internship I’ve been in. When I think back on my summer internship memories, I will most likely remember the delicious cheese and cracker platters, Stacey’s two energetic dogs, and having fun collaborating with the other interns.

Where have you always wanted to go?

Australia. When I was a kid my favorite animal was a kangaroo and I had always wanted to see one up close (especially if it was boxing). I would also like to see other exotic animals that live in Australia and see how the lifestyle is there.

Favorite flower?

I don’t really know the names of too many flowers, but I would say lilies.

Nicest thing someone has done for you?

For my birthday, my friend sewed for me an entire sock monkey stuffed animal herself out of pieces of colorful socks that she had. It looked so finished and professional that I assumed she had bought it from a toy store before she told me she made it herself. 

Favorite item of clothing?

I like sweats, converse, and striped sweaters.

Favorite Gem?

Sapphire, in honor of my first Pokémon Gameboy Chip.

Fondest travel memory?

I’ve been to Las Vegas more than 20 times in my life. My grandfather enjoyed gambling there so we always went with him on short family trips. It gave me time to hang out with my older sister and my cousin. Because we weren’t able to gamble, we found many other ways to amuse ourselves. There’s something about watching SpongeBob for hours in a bathroom and building huge pillow forts that makes very fond memories. 

Katy Leakey Interview (Part Two)

Katy Leakey Interview (Part Two)

by Jessica

The second part of the interview with Katy Leakey, founder of the Leakey Collection, explores the improvement in the lives of the women of Kenya and Katy’s experience in not only starting but also continuing her work.

When Stacey informed the interns that we would be interviewing Katy Leakey, I immediately tried to imagine what living in Kenya would be like. But to picture living in a country I’ve never been to is extremely difficult because I associate my thoughts with memories and experiences. With none to reference, I sifted through various movies, books, and news articles I had seen about Africa in my mind; to my frustration, none of them gave me a satisfyingly coherent feel of what the lifestyle in Africa was like. As a result, I was excited to see if what Katy had to say about her experiences in Africa would help me understand life in the country better.  While at first afraid she would respond to my questions with predictably generic answers, I was amazed by the vivid pictures she painted through her incredibly intricate details and stories.

How has the Leakey Collection changed the lives of the Maasai?

Katy’s efforts were primarily met with resistance as the people of Kenya feared she would try to dictate change in their culture. Luckily, as the natives saw that Katy was bent on improving their situation, more started to partake in this new enterprise.

“Since then, it's changed dramatically.”

The women were able to have a secure financial base for the first time. Many began to open bank accounts and some even started their own businesses.

“They started things like micro financing; they have their own herds of cattle and goats; they’ve started sewing operations, hotels, little restaurants, and all sorts of things.”

I was impressed that most of the women were capable of managing their hard-earned money responsibly–a skill that many privileged people have not perfected.

The Multi-Strand Zulugrass Bracelet in Angani. 

“The women are more independent and they have more respect within the community.”

Another change was the domestic relationship in families of the natives. At first, the men were reluctant to accept the fact that their wives were working for money.

"For the first couple of years, the men REALLY fought it”

First demanding that Katy pay the men for the work instead of the women, they then tried to take the money from the women, and finally resorted to hassling the women at their workplaces.

"At that point we were closing worksites and opening them somewhere else, and then closing those too."

Katy had confirmed my belief that strife continued in the household and the domestic relationships in Kenya were founded on the understanding that the men had to be the breadwinners of the family. But as she continued, I discovered that this was not the case at all.

"Finally one day, about two years after we got started, Philip and I were driving down a dirt track towards the house and our car was surrounded by Maasai warriors called Moran... and they were fully suited with their spears and clubs and everything.”

The male warriors had demanded Katy to reopen the worksites for the women, but Katy refused to do so. When the men questioned her response, she explained that since the men continued to harass the women she would not be a part of that. After Katy refused once more, the warriors admitted they realized how much the women’s’ income was changing their communities.

"We understand now that they are paying school fees. We understand they are paying medical fees, they are buying food, they are clothing the children; therefore, we no longer have to sell the cattle, so we are getting wealthier - the wealth of the entire family is improving as a result of our women having work. So we really want you to open the worksites."

Maasai women who work with The Leakey Collection
 beading jewelry for the Collection.

Realizing that she could not change their minds on the case, Katy decided to get rid of the men by saying she would comply on one seemingly impossible condition.

“You must walk the lengths and widths of the Rift Valley and get all the Moran warriors to agree that they will no longer hassle the women and then come back… And we thought we'd never see them again."

Thinking that she had successfully deterred the warriors from trying to get the worksites, Katy didn’t give the subject another thought. However, she was in for quite a surprise.

"We were so shocked... 10 days later the same group of young men walked up to our place and said, “Okay we've done it."

Katy didn’t have any other choice but to open up the worksites again, as was requested by the Moran warriors. Fortunately, the men seemed to have learned their lessons about discouraging the women from working.

"…And from that day forward we haven’t had a problem."

Nowadays, conditions are really improving for the women in Kenya thanks to the Leaky Collection. Not only is there less domestic violence in the families but also men now even prefer to marry women who have jobs.  As Katy herself even said:

“It's been fantastic.”

Hey guys - my name is Jessica. Interviewing Katy Leakey and writing this blog have both been new experiences for me, so I'm excited to see how it's all come together! Thank you - and I hope you guys enjoy reading my article!


Up Next: Part three of our interview with Katy discussing the Leakey Collection's newest addition, Marula Oil.

Meet Ilana

Meet Ilana

Hello! My name is Ilana! I am in 12th grade, and I love fashion! Fashion to me is a form of expression and a creative way to showcase my personality to the world. My two passions in life are fashion and helping others. Working at Shopping for a Change this summer has been great, and we still have so much to do! Here are some interesting facts about me:

Why did I decide to intern at Shopping for a Change?

I wanted to intern at shopping for a Change because this non-profit combines my three favorite things: fashion, helping others, and shopping! Wanting to start my own sustainable business one day providing products to customers with a beneficial return to a needy person, I felt interning at Shopping for a Change would be a great start in gaining experience in this specific area.  

Favorite Collection at Shopping for a Change?

Shopping for a Change has so many great products from different artisan groups, but one that is my favorite is the Aid Through Trade bracelets. They are beautifully made in Nepal, and when purchased, provides women with safe and healthy jobs to support their families and communities.

Favorite Item of Clothing?

I am totally addicted to shoes! I love all the different colors and styles to choose from! I think shoes tell a lot about a person and shows off their personal style in a creative and fun way!

Katy Leakey Interview (Part One)

Katy Leakey Interview (Part One)

By Ilana

On June 27, 2013, four of our summer interns had a wonderful opportunity to interview Katy Leaky, co-founder of the Leaky Collection, an organization which provides economic opportunity to local communities in Kenya. We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences and what they learned.  It will be presented in four parts, and will be followed by a short biography of each intern at the conclusion of their portion.

-- Stacey

I just recently had the opportunity to talk to Katy Leakey the founder of the Leakey Collection, all the way from Kenya.  The Leakey Collection is an all natural, sustainable jewelry and home decor line handcrafted in Africa. Inspired by her amazing company, I wanted to learn more about her job, daily routine, and life in Kenya.

Katy and her husband Philip Leakey live in the Rift Valley and have the Maasai tribes as their neighbors. In 2001, a terrible drought in Kenya left the Maasai's cattle without water and the ability to graze. The men were forced to leave behind their families and relocate their cattle elsewhere, leaving the women and children without a steady income. Before long, Katy and her husband found themselves supporting over 100 families providing food, medical and school funds. "Once it got up to that number it was no longer sustainable," stated Katy. The Leakey Collection evolved out of necessity.

Ilana models a Multi-Strand Zulugrass Bracelet
and Necklace. 

Coupling Katy's background in the arts with Philip's mechanical expertise and experience setting up enterprises in rural areas, the Leakeys turned to their environment, looking for a way to develop an economically sustainable means to earning a living for the Maasai women. By drying and dying an abundantly available wild grass that was otherwise not used, and then mixing it with Czechoslovakian glass beads, Zulugrass jewelry was born. 

Provided by the Leakey’s, the Maasai women check beading kits on a weekly basis and assemble this beautiful jewelry. 
The women work at remote work stations, often with their young babies at hand.  With a preference for sitting on the ground with their legs outstretched and beads in their laps, they enjoy singing while they bead.  They can work as much or as little as they want, after which the Leakeys buy back the completed products and connect them with a very sophisticated end market. This provides the women with access to a fair trade job, a stable income for themselves and their families.The Leakeys chose to keep their collection contemporary and well placed for the global market. Katy likes to think of the Leakey Collection as the “Ralph Lauren” of fair trade.

A normal day for Katy Leakey begins around 5:30 in the morning. Leaving her sleeping tent and walking 82 steps down a rock carved slope to reach her kitchen tent.  Making tea and watching the morning sunrise is a daily joy for her. Living out of tents for about 7 years, Katy enjoys living the “rustic life” in Kenya.

Often Katy has unusual days. A good friend of hers had a cow who had fallen off a cliff. Katy then jumped into a pickup truck and drove to the top of the mountain where the cow had fallen. They built a track down to where the cow was stranded. Finding the cow had broken its back,and needing to bring it to safety this took an entire day and about 17 men. With all their determination and efforts they were able to save the cow and reunite it with its nursing baby calf.

Up Next: Part Two of our interview with Katy, discussing the life changing impact the Leakey Collection has had on the lives of its artisans.

Hi, My name is Ilana, and I am a senior in high school. My two passions are Fashion and helping others. While interning at Shopping for a Change I have gained insight in marketing , social media, interviewing, and now blogging!

Relief Beads for Darfur

Relief Beads For Darfur
by Jessica

“Relief” – What does this word make you feel?

To me, this tiny word “relief” has the ability to be extremely powerful when it causes us to experience two completely different emotions. At first thought, the word implies a darker past full of pain, distress, and oppression – but as we begin associating it with alleviation from this pain and we are eased from our sadness. That is why I think “Relief Beads for Darfur” is such a fitting name for these beautiful bracelets. The artisans behind the assembly of these Relief Beads for Darfur carry a dark history full of oppression and distress on their backs, but the product that they make symbolizes the strength these women have emerged with after they have battled their life’s hardships. The beads of the bracelets reflect the artisans’ journeys, as each bead is made from sand and are each uniquely hand-painted to transform them into beautiful pieces of jewelry.

    Most of you hear about conflicts in Darfur through a voice coming out of the radio or a face on a TV screen. While we sympathize with the people living in Darfur, it sometimes becomes hard for us to find a way to help them. Sadly, with everything else happening in the world and in our everyday lives, it becomes easy for these tragic incidents to fade away to the backs of our minds over time. Wearing the Relief Beads for Darfur helps us to remember what is going on in the country and connects us more closely to the people who made them. It also gives us an easy way to help out people in Darfur:

- 1 Relief Bead feeds a malnourished child for 1 week
- 5 Relief Beads brings a malnourished child back to good health
- 10 Relief Beads restores the well-being of 2 malnourished children
- 100 Relief Beads saves the lives of 20 children

It is so amazing how much support these Relief Beads have received. Thanks to celebrities like Mandy Moore, Jessica Biel, and Zac Efron plus individuals like you who support this campaign, the people of Darfur are experiencing some relief. Won’t you be a part of it? Shop now >

Hi, my name is Jessica. As an upcoming senior in high school, I enjoy interning at Shopping for a Change. I've been gaining experience in marketing, interviewing people worldwide, and now blogging! I hope that you guys enjoy reading my blog post and become more aware of what's going in Darfur and how you can help!

Meet Eleanor

 Meet Eleanor

Hi! I’m Eleanor and I'm one of the interns at Shopping for a Change this summer. I am a rising junior and I have loved fashion ever since I graduated from dressing my American Girl Dolls to dressing myself. As soon as I saw the opening at Shopping for a Change, I knew I wanted to work here. Help impoverished women in third world countries just by shopping? It doesn’t get much better than that. I love how much you can help the world “just” by adding a new accessory to your closet. While the products are pretty darn cool, I am still continually amazed by the stories of resilience and strength I read and hear when learning about the women who participate in their creation. I have been having a blast with the SFAC team and I hope we can continue to do great work this summer! 

Favorite item of clothing? Dresses! You can throw one on and instantly look chic, without having to go through the difficulties of matching a top with bottoms. 

Favorite Gem? Sapphires--they’re my birthstone and I love their deep blue color. 

Favorite SFAC Product? I love the Glass Beaded Bracelets by Same Sky. Same Sky bracelets are created by women in Rwanda, many of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS. Not only are the bracelets made out of gorgeous hand blown glass, but also the purchase of a bracelet provides a year of health care for an HIV+ artisan. I have my eye on the Honeysuckle color, as I have a penchant for pink! 

Fondest Travel Memory? My fondest travel memory would have to be from a family trip to Italy a few summers ago. We had been in Venice for about half a day and, after settling in our hotel, decided to do some exploring. We walked along the waterfront and happened upon a church and a statue of a boy holding a frog. The clouds had been threatening rain all afternoon and they finally let loose when we were deciding to head back. Not knowing how long the storm would last, and knowing we hadn’t strayed too far from our hotel, we decided to make run for it, and hope we didn’t get too wet. As we were literally running, stopping occasionally under bridges and shop overhangs, I noticed that we were in the minority--most people were simply standing under our rest stops, waiting for the storm to pass. This proved to be the prudent strategy; as soon as the sign of our hotel was in sight, the rain stopped. Every member of my family was absolutely drenched, but at least we got to experience speeding through Venice in the rain!  

Support International Women's Day, March 9

Tomorrow, March 9, is International Women's Day, and I am personally celebrating this day by doing everything I can to help women who are financially disadvantaged here at home in the U.S. and all countries abroad. I recognize that many (if not most) women do not have the choices we enjoy—choices that come with where you're born and the opportunities provided or denied by those circumstances. If you're born in a village in a third world country your opportunities are very limited. When I started traveling to countries such as Peru in order to research my fair trade gifts I saw women of every age trying to earn money in any respectable way they could, from offering photo opportunities to selling their handmade wares. This is much of what International Women's Day is about: creating more opportunities, more choices for women in less fortunate circumstances than ours.

Here at Shopping for a Change much of my daily work and mission involves working for women of the international community who craft beautiful, trendy, eco-friendly products, and also helping nonprofits in the U.S. which address women's needs. Every day I and a few other volunteers who assist me search out fair trade accessories, fair trade jewelry, fair trade clothing, fair trade home decor to offer to our customers while giving back to the women (and to a far lesser degree, men) who craft these products. Soon, I will have a baby line of products.

Please join me in celebrating tomorrow by supporting women here in the U.S. and all points abroad. My fair trade marketplace is a wonderful way to directly help women abroad with limited opportunities and choices. Thank you.

Live everyday as if it is International Women's Day.