ZAMBIA: Jewelry Helps Support Zambia’s Wildlife

Wire snares are deadly to the wildlife of Africa. Poachers place their traps in the bush and capture animals indiscriminately. Often, the animals struggle for days before they die. Sometimes the animals will bite off their own limbs to escape. Zambia’s wildlife is terrorized by the inhumane and cruel use of wire snares.

But artist Marissa Perry Saints found a way to make a difference to the lives of both people and the wildlife of Zambia by working with the Mulberry Mongoose community project who turn the snares into beautiful jewelry.

Marissa started her Dsenyo Fair Trade Gifts as part of her vision to create sustainable jobs for women and communities where other opportunities are not available. The project was first based in Malawi but has now partnered with Mulberry Mongoose, an initiative based in the Luangwa Valley.

The Luangwa Valley is best known for the vast wilderness that makes up the South Luangwa National Park and surrounding area. There are few employment opportunities for those communities who live in the area.

Mulberry Mongoose uses responsible collection methods and sustainable organic materials, as well as snare wire to create job opportunities for artisans. Local women are trained to make the jewelry and young school leavers are employed to assist them until they can find other work.

Through the partnership with Dsenyo, the fruit of their labor can now be purchased across the United Sates and from online stores. The snare jewelry is a big part of their creative effort.

Mulberry Mongoose is supported by the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS) and Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP). They supply the artisans with the wire from snares that are collected from the South Luangwa National Park. The project is one of simplicity and has created a circle of benefits.

The wire from the snares is collected by the NGOs, who hand it over to the artisans. The artisans create jewelry that earns a community income. The jewelry is then sold across the world. Dsenyo donates $5 back to the NGOs, for every piece of jewelry that they sell. The money is funneled back into their anti-poaching operations.

This is a beautiful project which benefits so many people and the wildlife of Zambia. If you are looking for a perfect gift that will make a difference to communities and wildlife anti-poaching, visit the Dsenyo website for more information and all their store locations.