Group distributes nets, brings back 1,600 new bracelets!

Kairos Founders, the Morris' and Penningtons led a group of 19 from Tulsa to Ghana, September 8-17 to distribute nets provided by Kairos 10 purchases.  Four medical clinics were offered in four different villages in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, north of Kumasi, and west of Lake Volta.  Three of the villages were Kwampe, Zabrama, Tanoanu. In each of these villages, patients were seen in clinics by a doctor, treated for various illnesses and ailments, and mosquito nets were distributed, especially to families with expectant mothers and children under the age of 5.  In three of the four villages, malaria was very widespread, even among some children as young as 2 and 3 years.  The group was heavily impacted by the needs seen in the villages.

The group also had the opportunity to visit both Tet's Bead Industry, as well as TK's Bead Industry.  Both of these local bead makers specialize in making the recycled glass beads which are found in Kairos 10 bracelets.  The process of making the beads is lengthy and involves pounding used glass bottles into fine powder, pouring the powder into molds, adding powder pigment, firing the beads in a clay oven, and finally shaping and hand-polishing them. Kairos beaders worked diligently throughout the week and were able to complete over 1600 bracelets which are now in the US!  New creations includes bracelets featuring school colors with hand-painted beads, and many new colors and new beads. 

Overall the trip was a success and God continues to grow and bless the efforts of Kairos 10, as many more people receive protection from malaria and hope for their villages. 

Recycling glass for beads

Pouring glass powder into molds to be fired

Coming home with Kairos luggage!

Kairos 10 Newsletter ~ Issue II

SAVING LIVES ONE NET AT A TIME!



The idea for Kairos began in September 2010 when on medical mission trips, children with fevers in excess of 104 were seen in clinic after clinic, year after year.  Malaria kills one in six children in Africa.  It is the result of a mosquito-borne parasite and highest death rates occur in children under the age five years and pregnant women.  Mosquito nets provide protection from such a devastating disease!  A net costs a Ghanaian 16 GHC or $12 US.  An idea for using a 'gift model' that gives 'life' seemed the solution.  If a product could be sold, then the proceeds could be used to buy a mosquito net to be returned to the Bush.  Thus an idea was birthed that Kairos jewelry would be the vehicle. 

In a partnership with Ghanaians, beads produced from recycled glass and vinyl records are purchased from bead merchants.  Kairos pays Ghanaian women four times the average daily wage to produce the jewelry.  Fabric is purchased locally and another woman is paid to sew cloth gift bags.  The results is sustainable income for women in West Africa and protection for God's children in the Bush.

2,500 mosquito nets have been purchased and delivered to Ghana as of July 1, 2011.  Kairos collaborates with another Oklahoma not-for-profit, "His Nets".  Nets are purchased and delivered to the African port city of Tema for pick-up.  Nets in bundles of 100 are of the finest quality and are effective for up to five years because the insecticide is woven into the threads.  These nets do not have to be re-dipped annually like less expensive nets.  In a partnership with Maranatha Power Ministries, Pastor Francis Odai delivers the nets to rural areas where his church ministers to a village's basic needs.  MPM's objective is to drill a water well, build a pole barn that functions as a church and school, and distribute mosquito nets to save lives.  The average size of a village is several hundred people and as few as seventy-five nets can protect the entire village's children and pregnant mothers. 

2,500 NETS DELIVERED TO GHANA IN 9 MONTHS

Girls' Vocational Home in Frankadua, West Africa

TULSA WOMEN VISIT GIRLS RESCUED FROM TROKOSI

In April, five women accompanied Kairos Founders Phyllis Morris and Katheryn Pennington to Ghana to learn first-hand how the jewelry is created and designed and meet the Beaders.  As a result of a conversation earlier in the year about the Ghana Baptist Convention's Girls' Home to rescue young girls from lives of slavery, the decision was made to visit the village of Frankadua to deliver mosquito nets to the school.  The goal was to explore future possibilities to serve these youth.  After meeting with the Head Mistress and greeting the girls, the girls sang and received hugs from the Tulsa visitors.  The atmosphere heightened when a soccer ball was presented along with other personal hygiene items which resulted in many cheers from the teens. 

Trokosi is an outlawed practice that continues to exist.  This home provides about 40 young women housing for three years with education, vocational training in sewing, food service, jewelry making, and other trades, and needed emotional support.  The Convention raises $4000 to rescue each girl and provide this training and support. 

Kairos is exploring options to employ these young women to make jewelry.

"NET" AN ENTIRE VILLAGE?

These individuals have netted an entire village by volunteering to represent Kairos by selling a minimum of 75 bracelets to friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances.

Kate Beatty

Carol Dewberry

Andrea Graver

Leah Horner

Helen Inbody

Teri Morris Niegrugge

Wendy Norris

Julie Ryker

Jeri Wells

If you would like to volunteer, please email Kairos10@cox.net

Home K10 Preview Parties

Molly Myers

Julie Ryker

Inventory Receiving Volunteers

Alicia Crawley

Andrea Graver

Leah Horner

Gwen Jones

Belinda Love

Wendy Norris

Julie Ryker

Brenda Shields

Nancy White

Donated Services

McKee & Bowker, CPAs, P.C.

Julia Neftzger, Attorney

All U.S. participants are volunteers and no person is compensated for their time and/or talents.  Kairos proceeds are used to save lives in West Africa.  Kairos is in the process of completing the application for an IRC 501 (c)(3) entity status.

Thank you for purchasing Kairos Jewelry.

Co-Founders:

Dr. David and Phyllis Morris

Charles and Katheryn Pennington