Today, my thoughts are on the fast approaching Season of Giving- also known as “the holidays” in Western culture.  For many, the season of giving is preceded with a season of healing.  In the Maasai culture, healers are known as the Laibon.  The Laibon apply their healing practices through herbal remedies and sacred rituals. Meanwhile, thousands of Westerners across the globe are participating in numerous healing rituals of their own to raise awareness and fight one of the top killers of women- Breast Cancer. 

Some alarming facts I found about Breast Cancer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer in the United States is the most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity; the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women and the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.  In 2004 (the most recent year numbers are available): 186,772 women and 1,815 men developed breast cancer.40,954 women and 362 men died from breast cancer. 

We are determined to do our part and contribute to this season of healing as well by battling this awful disease.   This fall, we are participating in our second annual campaign in the fight against breast cancer.  The Leakey Collection is again donating 10% of all sales from our pink Kuponya (means ‘to heal’) necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  The donation will be divided between our women’s health initiative in rural parts of the Maasai Mara and with a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  This annual ritual we participate in maintains the global connectivity of women helping women.  Perhaps the readers will find a healing ritual of their own to share to keep this connection alive and well.  

The Leakey Collection Selected as Finalists in the World Challenge Competition!

I am thrilled to announce to you we have been selected as a finalists in the World Challenge 08, a global competition sponsored by BBC World News and Newsweek, in association with Shell. The competition is aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. As a result, we will be featured on BBC World News and in Newsweek this fall!

The winner of the competition will be selected by a voting process and will receive a $20 000 grant to put back into their project/business and two runners up will each receive $10 000. This investment would create tremendous opportunities for the Maasai by giving us more resources to expand The Leakey Collection.  In addition, it would benefit the community by allowing us to do more outreach with programs such as the Women’s Health Initiative. The three finalists will be flown to The Hague, The Netherlands to attend the award ceremony in December 2008.  Please visit the site between October 1 and November 21rst to vote!

This is a wonderful affirmation of the work we do with the Maasai and I feel honored to have our organization recognized among such outstanding nominees.  We were nominated for our innovative use of sustainable materials and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the thousands of workers that make up The Leakey Collection. Thank you to our loyal customers, retailers and supporters who made this wonderful recognition possible!