At Khutsala Artisans, we love to produce beautiful jewelry and home decor that people love. Using colorful beads and intricate woodwork, our Swazi artisans make versatile and elegant pieces that compliment any home or outfit.
Our spring collection, in particular, is full of jewelry and decor that's fun, lively, and earthy. Each product bodes well with spring and either reminds you of flowers and sunshine or family-friendly activities that you can do outside since the weather is nice.
For this year's spring collection, our Swazi artisans put a lot of work into making jewelry that you'll love to wear and home decor that you'll want to show off. But creating beautiful handmade products isn't the only thing we want to achieve at Khutsala Artisans.
In addition to making lovely pieces, our team wants to give you a chance to help make a difference in the world. And in Eswatini, Africa—a small, landlocked kingdom—you have an opportunity to help reduce poverty every time you buy something from Khutsals Artisans.
Understanding poverty in Eswatini
Decreasing poverty is a primary objective around the world. Between 1990 and 2015, the number of people experiencing extreme poverty decreased by more than half, but many individuals are still struggling.
While some countries are progressing, poverty continues to be a central issue in many places, including Eswatini. The kingdom's population is 1.1 million, but 58.8 percent of the rural population lives below the national poverty line, meaning they live on less than US$1.90 per day. Even worse, 20 percent of the population is extremely poor.
Because of these numbers, Eswatini is a lower-middle-income country, ranking 138th out of 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Index. When it comes to inequality, the kingdom has the 10th highest income equality in the world.
Many Swazis are experiencing the consequences of this poverty. Without financial resources, Swazis usually encounter hunger, homelessness, and baby dumping. However, the leaders in Eswatini know some of the factors contributing to poverty, including the three below.
In Eswatini, primary education is free. The government covers the costs so that parents don't have to worry about another expense. But when it comes to secondary schooling, parents have to pay for their children's education.
This financial responsibility is not something that most Swazis can handle. Because poverty is such an issue in the kingdom, many Swazis don't have the resources to send their children to secondary school, leading to an increase in dropout rates.
And when children grow up without a proper education, they often find themselves without the skills they need to pursue viable job opportunities. This pitfall then leads to poverty for young adults, and unfortunately, the cycle repeats itself when they have children.
While the leaders in Eswatini are taking steps to increase job opportunities, many Swazis are unable to find work. The Swazi youth are particularly impacted as they have to wrestle with broken dreams, hopelessness, and a lack of purpose.
Most children in Eswatini grow up and only know poverty, but it's not until they become young adults that they encounter and understand the consequences of that poverty.
In a recent survey, 44 percent of respondents indicated that young Swazis abuse drugs and alcohol to cope with the stress of unemployment. The survey also found that most of the youth in Eswatini have a negative self-perception, constantly thinking self-defeating thoughts.
Many Swazis in Eswatini are farmers. Smallholder agriculture is the foundation of rural livelihoods, and 70 percent of the kingdom's people rely on subsistence farming to make a living.
But farming in Eswatini is not an easy way to make money. Constant droughts, infrequent rainfall, outdated farming technology, prolonged dry spells, and little investment in fertilizers and seeds make it challenging for Swazis to have a good harvest.
In fact, out of all the food that Swazis produce, about 30 percent of it is considered a post-harvest loss. Without a favorable return, Swazi farmers usually don't make the money they need to live comfortably. More often than not, they live in poverty alongside their family and community members.
Make a difference by supporting Swazi artisans
With the impact of poverty playing such a detrimental role in Swazis' growth and quality of life, our team at Khutsala Artisans wants to do everything possible to uplift the people in Eswatini.
That's why we employ Swazis artisans to make our jewelry and home decor, and we give all of our profits to the children's homes at Heart for Africa. The money we get from selling beautiful products provides jobs and provisions for children who grew up in impoverished communities.
However, we can't do this alone. We need your help to decrease poverty in Eswatini, and the best way you can get involved is to buy products from Khutsala Artisans.
Our Swazi artisans produced beautiful pieces for our spring collection, the newest line at Khutsala Artisans. If you're looking for fun, fresh items that celebrate spring or help you remember the impact you're making, there are plenty of pieces for you to choose from.
A wonderful addition to any home, the Beaded Wall Flower is a bright, cheerful, and sunny piece that welcomes springtime! This African beaded decoration is new to Khutsala Artisans and is great for your living room, office, or sun porch. You can also use it during summer.
Buy the Beaded Wall Flower HERE.
Handmade by Swazi artisans, Family of 3 is an excellent gift for parents, holidays, housewarmings, or birthdays. This home decor is completely new to Khutsala Artisans, and it includes beautiful metal art, glass beading, and our Signature SwaziMUD beads. Another great thing about Family of 3 is that it can remind you of the families you're supporting when you buy products from Khutsala Artisans.
Buy Family of 3 HERE.
If you're looking for a colorful touch to your garden, indoor plant, or flower pot, you may want to check out our Daisy Garden Stakes. Attached to a 15-inch stake, these handcrafted flowers each contain over 2,900 beads. Additionally, these daisies come in multiple colors, including pink, white, and green, so you have the opportunity to brighten up your house with springtime hues.
Buy Daisy Garden Stakes HERE.
Great for men and women, the Bhuti Bracelet is another new addition to Khutsala Artisans. This elegant bracelet includes a long cylindrical bar made from SwaziMUD and adjustable cording so that you can tailor the fit. Another cool thing about this bracelet is that bhuti means "brother" in siSwati, making it a great expression of brotherly love.
Buy the Bhuti Bracelet HERE.
If you like ladybugs, which show themselves during the spring, you're going to love the Beaded Ladybug. Great decoration for your home or office, the Beaded Ladybug is an excellent addition to your springtime collection.
Our Swazi artisans take more than 10 hours to complete this sculpture, and they use thousands of beads to create the piece. So, you can rest assured that you're getting a high-quality product.
Buy the Beaded Ladybug HERE.
When it's spring, there's nothing better than lighting a candle to freshen up your home, which is why the Mother and Child Candleholder is a perfect piece. A new addition to our line of authentic, African home decor, this item is made from metal, and it includes a round base to ensure it's sturdy enough for any shelf or tabletop.
Get this piece if you want to bring classic, African style to your office, patio, or home.
Buy the Mother and Child Candleholder HERE.
Flowers are a staple in springtime, and these Flower Earrings bring sunshine, brightness, and joy to your wardrobe. Designed and handcrafted by our Swazi artisans, these earrings come in three styles to provide versatility and complete any look.
Buy Flower Earrings HERE.
Shop with purpose
No matter what you choose, you can't go wrong with the products in our spring collection. Our Swazi artisans have done a great job producing beautiful items that you'll love, so go check out our latest line of jewelry and home decor. Not only will you find beautiful items, but you'll also find the chance to make a difference through your purchase.
In February, most people only celebrate Valentine's Day, and it makes sense. It's the most popular and well-known holiday of the month. But there's another special day that also exists: Random Acts of Kindness Day.
