Same Kind of Different As Me

“…I worried that I was so different from them that we wadn’t ever gon’ have no kind a’ future. But I found out everybody’s different – the same kind of different as me. We’re all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain’t no final resin place. So in a way, we is all homeless – just workin our way toward home.” – Denver Moore, Same Kind of Different as Me

Same Kind of Different as Me is about a modern-day slave, and international art dealer, and an unlikely woman who bound them all together. I finished the book today, with a deep longing to witness more stories just like this. This was a story of Ubuntu. A word I’ve heard a lot this year, and even more so in the last couple weeks and Jared and I prepared for KEZA’s first gala. Ubuntu was the theme of the evening, it was the essence that brought everyone together the night of the 31^st, but more than that it is the essence that spurs on our dreams and desires for KEZA, and ultimately for women in Africa.

Ubuntu speaks of the inter-connectedness of all human beings. It is the essence of being human…and it embodies the truth that we cannot be fully human alone, but that we need each other in order to be fully alive. The women of BURANGA have breathed life into this term for the KEZA family. They have taught us how our struggles, personalities and triumphs intertwine all of our hearts with bonds that are not easily broken. From the women of BURANGA we have learned that ubuntu is not something that is only truth if we believe in the word. But that ubuntu is a truth that lies in the hearts of all humanity; it is true whether or not our hearts are awake to its presence in our lives.

Ubuntu demonstrates love that is unconditional, hope that pierces darkness and faith that changes lives. Loving others runs deep into each of our hearts and touches us in the most profound ways; knowing that someone believes in us is all most of us need to find our own spark within our hearts so that we too can shine.

The women of BURANGA are shining, and their glow is being seen all over the world.

Great Start for 2009!

We’re so thankful to all of the volunteers that helped make our first annual KEZA Gala such an amazing event! Saying “we couldn’t have done it without you” would be an understatement. There were no major issues, we raised a good chunk of money, and we gained a ton of new members in the KEZA family. It was a tremendous success!

2006 – 2007 was about listening. 2008 was about trial and error, research and development and lots more listening. Now in 2009, we finally know who we are, where we’re going, and how we’re going to get there.

We’ve turned the whole bead making operation over to the women and they now have their own business called BURANGA (meaning beautiful). Words can’t express how excited I am to report this. The women are so proud of BURANGA, and we are so proud of them. We have finally achieved our first KEZA partner, 100% Rwandan owned and operated!

Now KEZA is based solely in the US as a 501c3 non-profit corporation. In Africa, we are there to develop locally owned businesses and buy their products. We’ve finally learned how to truly serve the people, and not just our American ideals. For more information, check out the HOW IT WORKS page on the website.

We’ve got lots of beautiful (and quite daring) jewelry designs coming your way this summer thanks to Lindsay Perkins and Jenny Lai, our interns from Rhode Island School of Design. They have been so great to work with and will be joining BURANGA in Rwanda for a few months this summer!

We are off to an amazing start this year and we look forward to living out the ubuntu philosophy with each of you. Remember, KEZA is not KEZA without you!

Most Sincerely,
Jared