“Where you live should no longer determine whether you live.”
– Bono (U2)

In June of 2009 I returned to Kenya for the third time to do AIDS education. While spending ten days teaching in a variety of venues, my eyes were again opened to all the orphans around me. UNICEF reports approximately 53,000,000 kids orphaned in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily as a result of preventable diseases; and most are predominantly plagued by a mixture of horrible circumstances, poor adult choices and human apathy. I want to be a part of changing that. After importing some Tanzanite stones from East Africa, I started my own business named after Baraka, a young orphan girl I met on my return flight from Kenya in 2009.

I am committed to using the sale of the luxurious to change the circumstances of the impoverished. I'm doing that by using profits to help build self-sustaining orphanages worldwide. I currently donate 10+% of the profits of every sale (hopefully 50% someday), to nationally run orphanages in Kenya particularly.

By purchasing jewelry from Baraka Gemstones and Jewelry, you help me to help you help kids! If you have questions for me, please ask. I love talking about the story of Baraka. I am also interested in your story, and how we might work to write a page or two together. If you want to see what I am up to with your own eyes, go with me to Kenya!

Thank you for any support you offer! I can’t do this without people who care.

Baraka (which means “Blessing” in Ki-Swahili) to you,

Jamie Jockwig
Owner and Manager
Baraka Gemstones and Jewelry
www.barakagems.com