These are some photos of one-of-a-kind pieces that Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business’ International Service Learning (ISL) program import from Kenya to sell through their fair-trade business, Amani products (Amani means “peace, harmony” in Swahili).
The ISL is an innovative curriculum that teaches students about fair trade and microfinance, for credit, partly through hands-on sales, inventory, accounting and marketing of close to 100 Amani products from artisan groups in Africa and South America.
Next week, there will be tables set up around both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campus where you can see the items and purchase the pieces for cash. Prices range from $3 for a small key chain, up to $50 for a full hand-carved soapstone chess set. The project also sells bead necklaces, pounded metal bracelets, golden thread earrings, cross necklaces and ram’s head charms, some of which can be seen here.
Most of the gifts come from two small fair trade businesses in Kenya – the Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers Organization in Western Kenya, Trinity Jewelry Crafts in Nairobi.
You can find the Amani table at:
Lincoln Center Campus, Lowenstein Promenade: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, December 6
Lincoln Center Campus, Lowenstein Promenade: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, December 7
Rose Hill Campus, O’Hare West Wing: 6 p.m to 10 p.m., Wednesday, December 8
Rose Hill Campus, around Edward’s Parade, Thursday, December 9
Rose Hill Campus, McGinley Center lobby, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, December 10
Rose Hill Campus, Rose Hill Gymnasium, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, December 11
—Janet Sassi
