Shop with the Red Rhinos!

In light of the Red Rhinos’ recent success, I feel suddenly inspired to promote their blossoming business wherever possible.  Some of you have suggested we set up an online site where the women can sell their goods abroad, but considering the general lack of wifi in this godforsaken Kingdom, exorbitant shipping costs, and the overall mystery that is the African postal system, I don’t see that happening in the near future.  BUT, today I’m presenting you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shop with the Red Rhinos.  On April 4, my father and grandmother arrive in Swaziland and have agreed to transport goods back to the States for those of you who are interested.  Here’s how this will work for those of you pining for some African bling: I will post photos for the items for sale.  You shoot me an email at kefreeman9@gmail.com with your order.  Each product is individually crafted, so if you specify the general color scheme/pattern you’re looking for, I’ll do my best to pick out something that matches your request. You send money to my lovely sales reps (Cali folks, this means my mom, dad, or grandma.  ATL folks, this means the beautiful Megan Freeman).  You can expect to get your goods in mid-April upon my dad and grandmas’ return to Amurica.  I am hoping to purchase the goods on March 14, when I travel with Busi and Ivy (Red Rhino co-MVPs) to meet the group of women who are actually making the goods.  We will still accept orders up until April 4, but if possible, I would love to receive them by March 13. 

For those who need a refresher on the history of Red Rhinos:  The Red Rhinos are composed of seven women from a rural Swazi community that serves host to the nation’s most esteemed Safari Game Reserve.  The Red Rhinos have partnered with Bambanani, a group of skilled artisans from the south of Swaziland that lack a local market to sell their goods.  The constant flux of tourists through our community makes it the ideal location for a market.  Both Bambanani and the Red Rhinos are composed to women who play active roles in the community, volunteering as caregivers to serve the sick, elderly, and orphaned.  Caregivers are uncompensated and the women often use their own money to purchase soap, gloves, adult diapers, and food for the families they serve.  Many of my women are involved with the community HIV support group and lead their peers in exemplifying the meaning of “positive living.”  These women lack a reliable source of income, so this business partnership provides them with the means to purchase more nutritious food for their families, pay medical fees, and send their children to school.  This business has empowered the women from both groups to take ownership of their own lives and enables them to continue to serve their communities as volunteers. 

That being said, here’s what we’re offering:

More shots of the bags featured above - all are reversible and have different prints on the inside

Prices are as follows:

Earrings (woven and beaded): $5

Double-stranded bracelet: $5

Necklaces: $7

E-reader bag: $10

I-pad bag: $12

Bucket bag: $15

If you have a knack for rocking African jewelry, send me an email and we will hook you up!

Thank you all for your support! And special thanks to those who have listened graciously as I vented about this project and celebrated the revival of what I once thought was doomed to fail!