Mikhala wearing a beautiful Jane WoK necklace.
Women of Kireka is not only a women’s cooperative in Uganda, but also a growing community of individuals from around the world interested in promoting human rights and helping others through direct economic empowerment. A Women of Kireka team Skype call is a humbling experience, with volunteers, interns and advisors calling in from up to three or four parts of the world. Each person pitching in their best skills, whether that be creating, marketing, sharing, number-crunching, energizing. These generous individuals form the back bone of Women of Kireka’s international presence and we’d like to introduce them to you.
Meet Mikhala: Women of Kireka ambassador (North America)
Mikhala Lantz-Simmons hails from Kansas City, Missouri. She moved to Montreal four years ago to study French Literature and International Development at McGill University. Mikhala currently works as a facilitator/researcher at a not-for-profit organization in Montreal called the Tolerance Foundation. She facilitates workshops with high school students on social justice issues such as discrimination, genocide, and human rights. A trained mediator, Mikhala plans on continuing her education in the field of conflict resolution.
Why are you involved with Women of Kireka?:
I am involved in the Women of Kireka cooperative because I believe consumers want the opportunity to connect with the human beings who make their products. As a whole, we are often far removed from the things we buy, where they come from, who made them, and under what conditions. Women of Kireka gives purchasers the chance to connect with the hands that made their jewelry, the lives of the women whose fingers spin the beads. There is a direct link between my purchase and the woman who made the piece I am wearing because with Women of Kireka, you have access to all of the information. You know exactly where your jewelry comes from. You even know the names and aspirations of the women who created the pieces. This jewelry is not only beautiful and striking; the beads themselves exude a positive, life-giving energy. I feel honored to be a part of the Women of Kireka initiative.