Kujenga Project

After my recent trip to Tanzania and my lifelong dream to start a business that has a real purpose behind it, I decided to start what I now call "Kujenga". Eventually I would like to help fund many organizations, but this is just the start of it all. My first project deals with an orphanage I worked with and completely fell in love with in Tanzania. Here's the story: 

Osiligi Orphanage was founded in late 2011 by Michael and Hedaya Medoth. Michael was inspired by the memories of his own rough childhood to drop everything and help children living in difficult circumstances. He left his job as a Safari tour guide to focus all of his time and energy on the children. His wife, Hedaya, has a degree in teaching and provides an education for the children.

They currently have four orphans whom they take care of full time and seven others who come only for school each day. A plot of land just down the road from their home grows an assortment of fruits and vegetables and is their main source of food. Michael has expressed his plans to build a new house for the orphans as well as a school and expand his kind efforts to more children in need. While they are doing so many great, sustainable things to keep the orphanage progressing, there is little room for expansion with the resources they currently have.

I met Michael with a group of volunteers from HELP-international in Arusha, Tanzania. After the first day I spent with Michael and his kids, I was overwhelmed by his sincerity and genuine concern for the children. It didn’t take long for me to realize that he needed our help beyond just what we were doing for him while in Tanzania. 

My friend and I decided to do an art project with the kids which we would later bring back to America to sell as a way of funding the orphanage. Using their individual and creative imaginations, each of the children beautifully painted two canvases. It was a joy watching their ideas flow onto the canvas. One boy, Shedrack, filled most of his canvas up with bananas!

Why Kujenga?

“Kujenga” means “create” in Swahili. Creativity plays a vital role in our lives. As education is crucial from a young age, so is the involvement of creative thinking, whether that be art, or problem solving. Most importantly, however, is the ability to create. We all have the opportunity to create good things around us. At Osiligi orphanage, Michael and Hedaya have created a family, a home, a place of rest, and a foundation for the children’s futures.

Each one of my creations has more than just a practical purpose. With each item you purchase, 10% of the profit goes to Osiligi orphanage. The funds will go towards providing basic needs for the orphanage, the expansion of their program and supporting the involvement of art in their curriculum. 

Coming soon, you will also be able to purchase the paintings online at my etsy shop:{etsy.com/shop/kellyannecreations}