Kadens Kloset expands services Globally to Zimababwe!!
As many of you know, in the past 4 months we committed to Kadens Kloset: Zimbabwe as a branch from our #100 Pounds Project here at Kadens Kloset.We wanted to give you an overview of where we are at with KK:Z and our mission with this partnership.
After meeting with Tabeth Kufamurase (Zimbabwe native and non-profit worker) and having her tour 3 of our Kadens Kloset locations, she shared with Kristle (Kadens Kloset Co-Founder and CEO) information about her work and mission to help rescue and restore women and children from the sex trade. We were shocked to learn the statistics and stories of these families, and to learn that for many, there is no other option for reliable income to feed their families. Tabeth was working to take these vulnerable people out of the trade, but she was finding that without economic stability and an ongoing source of income, they could not afford to feed their families and would have to turn back to the trade over and over again. After touring our Klosets, Tabeth shared with us her vision for opening "Boutique" style shops very similar to our existing Kadens Klosets, but with the difference of "selling" the merchandise within. Tabeth would hire the individuals escaping the "trade" and they would receive a fair wage, eliminating the need to ever go back into the sex trade. This would also restore the families by giving them a respectful social and economical status within their communities and villages. We knew we wanted to be a part of this wonderful work, and it fit perfectly with our own mission and vision here at Kadens Kloset.
Right away, we brought on Harold Whitsell (a regular KK volunteer at our Holland location) as our Kadens Kloset International Liaison. Since joining the team only 4 short months ago, Harold has already traveled to Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda delivering hundreds of pounds of supplies and necessities, while also helping Tabeth establish the best way to move forward with her work. Just this month, they were able to lock in a location in the heart of an economically stable part of Zimbabwe to open KK:Z. This ensures that there will be shoppers able to afford paying a small and fair price for the items, while also ensuring an ongoing source of income for the workers employed through the "shop".
We have worked with shipping companies, and created a path for getting our items from "here" to "there" by shipping large quantities of Kadens Kloset overflow in large shipping drums. For less than $700, we are able to ship an entire drum containing anywhere from 375-500lbs of supplies directly to our site in Zimbabwe!! It has been amazing stepping back and seeing this project truly take shape, and we are excited to announce that we are ready to ship the first drum this October!! We have been able to get a few hundred pounds in suitcases to begin the work there, but this drum gives us the QUANTITY needed to make a tangible difference for many women and children.
For children like the one mentioned in the story below, your support is life changing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Just last week one of the national radio stations did a story on the lives of sex workers in Hopely (within Harare). The whole nation was broken by the case of a nine year old girl who has turned to this trade so as to support herself and her five year old young brother. It was heart breaking listening to the young girl as she narrated her story, having to sleep with as many as five men in a night so as to survive.
Last year I shared a similar story of a 14 year old sex worker I have been walking with in Epworth, Mabel. It is the story of Mabel that gave me hope as I listened to this nine year old’s story. Mabel has since moved from Epworth to a less poorer suburb in Harare where is also working as a peer educator. Hopely, like Epworth is a very poor suburb in Harare. It is a relatively new suburb when compared to Epworth, still lacking most of the basic amenities expected for a residential community. With most of the residents being informally or self- employed, prostitution is big business in the suburb.
Unfortunately, the high number of sex workers and the poverty of the community also translates to very low returns for sex work, with the average cost being $0.25/client."
- an excerpt from Tabeth Kufamurase, our Kadens Kloset: Zimbabwe Director in her September Newsletter.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We will continue to keep you informed on the work being done through Kadens Kloset: Zimbabwe and through our #100 Pounds Project, as well as share updates from Tabeth and Harold as we receive them! Please consider supporting this project! Every donation is 100% tax deductible and, as a completely volunteer run organization, we can ensure that 100% of the proceeds from your donations go directly into the projects they are allocated to! Thank you for your ongoing support and affording us the opportunity to tangibly change the lives of children and families through Kadens Kloset!!!