Want to do your heart good and clean out your jewellery box, too?
Gather up any unwanted costume jewellery then take it to a local businesses for recycling. Your efforts will result in funds being raised to support women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Five local businesses are teaming up with Shannan Brown to gather used costume jewellery. This fundraiser has a twist though, the jewellery isn’t recycled here. After being sorted and packed, the jewellery is taken to Tanzania where it is sold in the markets to locals.
“The original intention was to reuse beads to make new jewellery however it became a winning fundraiser for women’s projects.” Brown says. “Last winter, when working in Moshi, Tanzania, I showed the local women the used jewellery that was gathered here. They said it was too valuable to merely recycle the beads. It was highly fashionable and in demand!”
All of the jewellery was sold, intact, to local women. Used clothing and other goods are commonly sold in markets in Tanzania, why not jewellery? The funds raised went directly into Brown’s development projects for women, supplying chickens, feed or vet services to new entrepreneurs. Brown has been selected again by Royal Roads University to return to Tanzania.
Thanks to Island Fever Travel, she has secured 400 pounds as a luggage allowance. Her plan is to take as much jewellery as possible and is asking Campbell River to help out.
Drop off used jewellery at 5th Dimension Hair Studio, Preston Jewellers, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, Classy Katz Consignment or Island Fever Travel.