Jewels for Africa

Since my first trip to Sierra Leone, Africa, four years ago, I often call to mind two photographs (out of the nearly 20,000 I have taken) that symbolize being a child in SL versus being a child in the United States. One is of a girl holding a comb, and the other is of a boy playing with a bike wheel.

I have always used these images to convey to my kids (Christina, age 9, and Damon, age 7½) that it is by the luck of the draw that they were born to parents who live in NYC. I emphasize that life is not a franchise and that entitlements come with responsibilities. I also encourage them to set aside some of their own money for charity, to help those less fortunate than they are.

As we developed Ruff&Cut into a business and the collection of jewelry came together, my kids started to become interested in how jewelry is made. Several of the Ruff&Cut pieces are inspired by my trips to Africa.

About a year ago, we discovered a store in NYC called Beads of Paradise www.beadsofparadisenyc.com. My daughter took several beading classes there and has developed a keen eye for unique gemstones. She joined together with some friends and they started making their own jewelry.

Recently, they began selling their wares to friends and neighbors. During my most recent trip to Sierra Leone, I presented the headmaster of Aberdeen Primary School with $100 from the proceeds of our kids’ efforts. $100 is about three months’ salary for most Sierra Leonean workers, and four months’ salary for a schoolteacher. The headmaster used the money for a holiday party for the kids, to provide shoes for kids without them, and for lunches for several kids who go hungry because their parents can only afford one meal per day.

The charity our NYC kids have established is called Jewels for Africa, and this is how they describe themselves:

Jewels for Africa is a charity that helps the people of Sierra Leone and other African countries. Christina, Melina, Maude, and Damon are all the managers, designers, and jewelers. Damon and Christina’s dad (Wade Watson) goes to Sierra Leone about 6 times a year for business, and when he goes, he takes along the money we make from designing and making jewelry. We make the money by selling hand-made bead jewelry in sterling silver. Our neighbors and our friends are our customers.

Well, you might be wondering where Wade Watson takes the money. He takes the money either to the St. George Orphanage or Aberdeen Primary School. One dollar is the average daily wage for Sierra Leoneans. So one dollar from Jewels for Africa is a lot of money for Africans. For example, 25 cents will buy a bowl of rice or a mango in Sierra Leone.
We have made progress with Jewels for Africa. We all hope this continues to be a successful venture.

Two creations from Jewels for Africa:

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the need in Africa, I hope you’ll remember this example of what four kids can do, and find your own small but significant way to help our brothers and sisters in that troubled country. Look at the good $100 dollars can do.


Highest Regards,

Wade Watson