Fair Trade Gifts
Welcome to Artes Mundi, a family business offering a wide range of fair trade gifts, garden ornaments, beautiful accessories and jewellery from around the world.
Buy from us on this site, at one of our many outside visits or by visiting us in Aldreth, near Ely.

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Baraka School

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SUPPORT THE BARAKA ZA IBRAHIM CHILDREN CENTRE BY USING CODE "BARAKA" ON PURCHASE

We were lucky enough to visit Kenya this year and meet up with the craftsmen and women that make some of the items we sell. Apart from the business side of the trip, we visited Baraka Za Ibrahim Children Centre and School set up and run by a remarkable lady called Marsila Praxedes. Marsila, a teacher, started the school about 20 years ago with a couple of young children who asked for her help – they had nothing and nowhere to go, so she took them in, fed and clothed them and educated them at her home. More and more children came to her for help until she had to make a decision – stop helping these children and carry on with her life or find a way to fund what she was doing. Over the years Marsila has fought every step of the way, prejudice, officialdom, attempts to close her down. She even lost her regular job as a teacher because they found out she was teaching at home as well. Thankfully she’s a tough lady and through sheer determination and her persuasive powers she has built up this school purely through private donations, fundraising and volunteer teachers. She now has about 400 pupils around 30 of which live there. They range from pre-school to pre-university age. A small kitchen is in place for the preparation of lunches and supper. The classrooms, kitchen, boarding rooms, toilets, mud walled staff room and children’s playground are all crowded in an area of about 1 acre of land. All the children have been abused, abandoned or orphaned. Without this school – who knows what would become of them. We spent a lovely morning there looking around and talking to the children and the teachers. They had even prepared a show for us with a band and some traditional dancing. They told us what sort of things they need – books, pens, equipment, beds. Those who live there sleep 2 or 3 to a bed in small iron sheet rooms. The Chemistry lab was an empty room – all their practical work has to be done theoretically. The impression we got from the children was just how much potential there is and how important their education is to them. They know that this is their chance to get out of the slums. Please help them build a future for themselves. We have added the facility to donate either £2 or £5 alongside your purchases on our website. Simply enter coupon code 'BARAKA2' or 'BARAKA5' at checkout and we will add this to your order to be given to the school. If you wish to donate more please contact us directly.

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