The Leakey Collection knows the importance of team work!  From the Maasai woman beading Zulugrass in the Kenyan bush to the sales team in the States, we all work together to bring eco-chic products to the global marketplace, while raising awareness about fair trade and sustainability. There are many challenges associated with a rural enterprise, and none of us could do it alone.  It is much like a competition between two teams.  As  avid sports enthusiasts, we enjoy playing and watching most competitions.  But March Madness is quickly approaching, and we must confess that the NCAA basketball playoffs is our favorite as a spectator.  Watching these young individuals work hard as a team towards their goal- a NCAA championship- is truly inspirational.  There is always an unbelievable upset, an unlikely hero, and a story that will make you cry.  Watching these young men exhibit their sportsmanship, skills, passion and their teamwork on the courts is always so exciting.  Life lessons are demonstrated with every game.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!  A little competition might make it more fun so we are happy to announce The Leakey Collection’s own March Madness!

Like us on Facebook , RSVP yes to our contest event and  make a comment about the value of teamwork, and you will be in our drawing for free Zulugrass!  The first 64 people will qualify.  Once there are just 16 teams left in the college competition, we will randomly draw 16 winners. Each winner will receive a strand of Zulugrass in their favorite team’s color!

March Madness evokes a sense of fun and whimsy which conjures a memory that still makes me smile with embarrassment as I recall my enthusiasm to be a team player and how out of my element I was at the “game”.

In 2001, I arrived in Kenya as exuberant as a year old Labrador.  I was able to temper such annoying emotional displays, but it was difficult to contain my desire to please and be a part of the team.  Growing up, I learned to enjoy the synergy that came from teamwork, and I took that same enthusiasm with me to the African bush.  When I arrived, there were so many people working with Philip in and around the place that I hardly noticed I was in the bush, except for the type of teamwork that shaped my days.

Have you ever had a sister whose advise you always treasured?

That’s how we feel about  Advice Sisters!

How about you?

March is Women’s History Month dedicated to those women who inspire you.

Because you inspire us,  we have created a color combination of Zulugrass “You are an Inspiration“, two beautiful Zulugrass Single Strands in shades of blue to symbolize trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, and truth during Women’s History Month.  Celebrate by sharing one of these sets with a woman who inspires you. Tell her why she has inspired you and ask that she share the extra strand  with a woman who inspires her.

If two is not enough and you wish to keep the chain of inspiration flowing, we have an offering of 4 strands of inspiration on one card.

Check out those who inspire us on  I AM.

Share your inspirations with us here or on facebook !!!

Recently at the New York International Gift Fair, we were thrilled to meet Brigitte McKinnon, a woman who shares a similar purpose of making the world a better place.  Brigitte owns Pure Art, a boutique in Hudson, Canada. The store sells clothes, jewelry and décor from individual artists with all proceeds from the store going to the Pure Art Foundation, which concentrates on eliminating poverty and improving communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Brigitte’s husband and five sons work as a team with the store and foundation. So far the McKinnons have helped 200 children receive an education, and they’ve built five homes and a medical clinic. Next on their list is to open a community center where the artisans can learn how to make crafts that can later be sold to global markets.

Brigitte loves the bright colors of Zulugrass and says that they will work well with the theme of her shop, which is colors of the rainbow, representing their mission of bringing light where there is no light.

What we love about Pure Art is how the entire family works together to support impoverished families in Latin America and now in Kenya!

March 8th marks the 100th year celebrating  International Women’s Day (IWD),  during a time that we also celebrate Women’s History Month, whose theme this year is “Our History is our Strength”.   This year, rather than highlighting national figures,  we  are encouraged to discover stories about the women in our own families and communities, which  should make the women of past proud, the women of current inspired, and the women of the future envisioned.

Knowing the challenges that women faced, grappled with, and overcame can be an enormous source of strength to all of us, as well as a call to action to help those women around the world not as fortunate as we are. We so inspired everyday by the women we meet that support our vision for this company, who are making a difference in the world, that we have created a section in our blog called “I AM” to feature their stories that inspire us!

We encourage you to check it out and while your at it, check out International Women’s Day events in your area and around the globe and share with us your stories on our blog.  “LIKE” us on Facebook and you will be kept up to date on our new product designs, promotions and how you are making a difference in the lives of women in Kenya.