There are differing opinions on just how many lives were lost in the Rwandan holocaust. April 6, 1994 was the start of the massacre of Rwandan people. 90% Tutsis, and 10% Hutus. For 100 days an average of 8000 people per day were brutally murdered. This was reportedly the fastest rate of killings in the twentieth century. Now we are watching a similar event unfolding in Darfur, with the reports of the fastest rated killings and dislocated people, of the twenty-first century.

With the signing of contracts in the Sudan, we are praying for a peaceful settlement and end to the conflict in Darfur. We will be hopeing to help the people from that region, when we can purchase gifts from artisans of that area.

ABOUT TEMAK: Teenage Mothers and Girls Association of Kenya is an organization working to rescue, rehabilitate and provide vocational training to girls and young women. TEMAK has its centre in Tom Mboya Estate, Kisumu in the Republic of Kenya, where multiple programmes have been initiated to support the destitute since 1992. Our programmes focus on helping solve the problems of HIV/AIDS infected children, their parents - often single teenage girls - orphans, the poor and the destitute of the community. WHY IS TEMAK CONCERNED? School drop out statistics indicate that between 8,000 and 10,000 girls drop out of school in Kenya every year due to pregnancy. Many of the teenage mothers are unemployed with little knowledge on child care. Teenage pregnancy has many repercussions including psychological stress, social alienation, health problems, and further consequences of contracting STD's and AIDS. Although teenage motherhood is a long-standing problem, it has taken a dramatic and disturbing turn for the worse in the last 10 years, leading to increased child labor, prostitution and HIV infection. GIRLS IN NEED OF SPECIAL PROTECTION TEMAK has carefully designed a center where training, rehabilitation, and economic empowerment for adolescent girls is conducted in order to improve the opportunities of teenage mothers. Income generating activities are initiated for the girls in order to uplift their living standard. TEMAK CRAFTS As part of TEMAK's Economic Empowerment Plan, we promote and train girls and young women in Arts and Crafts skills and techniques using locally available materials like hyacinth, papyrus, sisal and many other available materials. TEMAK provides a conducive atmosphere for girls and children to acquire craft skills e.g. doll making, tie and dye, batik and creating tin and wire products, which are later sold. The income is used in support of the girls' projects or given out to individual girls or groups to start small scale business. TEMAK uses the same income to pay rent for those girls who are very desperate. With every purchase you make, you will help us support the girls and children since every penny goes 100% in support of their educational, vocational and social support.


FATRINE SELF HELP GROUP: is registered as community based group with an aim of creating self employment, and creating awearness on poverty eradication within our community. It has more that 20 members and they prodce quality soapstone handicrafts from soapstone mined in their local area of Kisii, Kenya. They started working as a group in 2003, producing bowls, animals, flower vases, eggs for gifts and hearts and many other beautiful, unique gifts. They are looking for international buyers to buy their products and so they will be able to meet their objectives as artisans, and help supports themselves and their community.

JOSEPH OBARA IS THE FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP.... AND KIM AT "GIFTS" CAN PROMISE THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICE. THIS IS OUR ARTISAN GROUP THAT LOST EVERYTHING IN THE POST ELECTION VIOLENCE/ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KENYA. AND WE ARE WORKING 24/7 TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN!

AS OF JULY 7 2008, THE FATRINE GROUP IS BACK IN BUSINESS! WITH THE HELP OF MANY ANGELS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO RAFFLES, FUNDRAISERS, AND SECURED AN ARTISAN GRANT THROUGH AID TO ARTISANS, (AND THE AWESOME HELP OF PHIL AT ONE WORLD PROJECTS) THAT ALLOWED JOSEPH AND THE FATRINE GROUP BUY THE TOOLS, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, & WORKSHOP NEEDED FOR THE FAMILIES TO GO BACK TO WORK!! THEY ARE ALL DANCING IN THE STREETS WITH JOY KNOWING HOW FAR THEY HAVE COME IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS... FROM HAVING LOST EVERYTHING IN THE POST ELECTION VIOLENCE, AND NOW BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK, WHEN THEY NEVER DREAMED OF BEING ABLE TO GO ON... SUCH A SHORT TIME AGO!

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE HELP WE HAVE GOTTEN FOR THESE FAMILIES.... SO LETS START SENDING THEM ORDERS TO FILL!!