Still in mourning about having to cancel all our volunteers (see two previous posts) and trying to recover. I thought I would be coming home early, but we have decided I am needed to help with the festival and have been granted permission to go with the President of the Regional Council of Agadez (the highest elected position in Agadez) and the Sultan and use their security.
In the mean time, in addition to festival preparation: I got Bombino to agree to play–he is a superstar here–and getting pretty well known internationally. I have gotten back to work making jewelry. I got a very large order from our jeweler friends in Iferouane and am working away stringing beads and putting together some necklaces.
Now I am counting on you to come in at Christmas to purchase gifts and holiday jewelry for yourselves so I can keep on ordering and keep them employed.
This order employed 45 jewelers
New creation by Leslie and the jewelers of Iferouane.
Amazonite, Jasper recycled glass and Tuareg sterling silver pendant.
This order for camel bag purses employed 20 women and 10 young girl apprentices to make the key rings.
Camel bag purse.
Sakina, Sidi’s daughter models a mother of pearl and sterling silver necklace.
are we still able to adopt a child for a year by paying for the schooling?
Absolutely, I am going out to the school in one week to get thank you letters from all the kids to send to their sponsors. You will have first choice of continuing to sponsor the same child and if you decide not to, then we will look for someone else. Unfortunately a few of the kids did not return so I will find all this out when I get there in a week. We now have 65 students, though so even though some did not come back, many new ones came in and we are growing all the time. Thanks for your sponsorship and you will hear from us in a couple of weeks.
Let me know what it costs to “adopt a child”
Maggie,
It costs $300 to sponsor a student for a year. I am going out in a week to check on them to see which have returned to school and which have not. We will be getting thank you letters for their existing sponsorsGo to this link
We give existing sponsors the chance to sponsor the same child again. If they do not, in December we will be looking for new sponsors. But there are plenty of kids who do not have sponsors yet. You can do the whole thing online with a credit card.
oops here is the link:
http://www.nomadfoundation.org/students
The jewelry looks beautiful & the camel bags are spectacular, can’t wait to get them in the Gallery and start selling! Mia
Great news, Leslie.
I’m enjoying following your work so much. I’m a huge fan of Bombino! If you need any additional hands in February I would be more than happy to help out!
Stay well
Ahhh my jewelry friends at Iferouane! Great craftsmen and the women too.
Bambino in the desert at Tamesna ……EVERYONE will be there…hopefully Hasso too.
Linda
Saw Nomad in Ojai on a recent visit and was enchanted by the beautiful reversible jackets handmade in Africa. Can you share more information about the designs and who makes them…and possibly offer them on your website?
Find both your art and your dedication inspiring.
Thanks,
MJRoberts
Redlands, CA
Hi,
I am sorry for the slow reply, but we have been working on putting more merchandise on the website. I am expecting to have the new site up in the next month. So look for jackets, jewelry, leather goods and more. The jackets are made from fabric I originally got in Mauritania with women’s co-operatives we supported there. Since it became very difficult for me to go back there I now get the fabrics from a Mauritanian importer in Niger where all our projects are focused. They are hand tie-dyed in Mauritania, although I have started to buy some other beautiful manufactured fabrics also from Niger. The jackets are sewn in Ojai, by a hispanic seamstress whose family has been associated with mine for generations. Maria is a master at matching patterns and getting the very unpredictable patterns and fabric sizes into a functional and beautiful garment. I will send you a note when the jackets are on the site. Thanks so much for you interest.