KTI CARES
KTI SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES
Celebrating a Bar/Bat Mitzvah? Baby Naming? Wedding? Anniversary? Add anothermitzvahto yoursimcha.Your purchase of Judaica, hand-crafted by small village artisans, helps support Jewish and non-Jewish communities in Jerusalem, Uganda and Guatemala.
KIPPOT for HOPE
GIVE HOPE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF UGANDA
Kippot for Hope was established to support the Jewish communities of Uganda. As of July 2009, there are approximately one thousand Ugandan Jews, all living in the east of the country. They have poor and simple lives - in stark contrast to most other Jews living in the Disapora.
They live in small communities, in mud and stick homes, without electricity or running water. Their daily meals consist ofrice, beans and matooke (a type of plantain). Their shabbas meals are exactly the same - bread and wine are a luxury that very few can afford. They pray in simple synagogues, built from brick - most without windows or a floor. Their communities have extremely limited health facilities. When a community member needs medical treatment they often have to be carried on the back of a bicycle to the nearest town.
Kippot for Hope aims to improve the lives of these communities by connecting them to other Jews around the world. The men and women of these communities are skilled craftsmen, able to crochet colourful kippot. They do not seek donations (although they are always welcome!) but aim to generate income for the community through sale of their kippot worldwide.
100% of all profits made goes directly to the communities that they support.The funds are used in various projects covering health, education, agricultural and religious initiatives.
For more information on Kippot for Hope and the purchase of kippot visit their website at
YAD LaKASHISH: Lifeline for the Old
SUPPORT JERUSALEM’S NEEDY ELDERLY AND DISABLED
YAD LaKASHISH: Lifeline for the Old is a non-profit organization which empowers and gives more than 300 of Jerusalem’s needy elderly and disabled a sense of purpose and self-worth through creative work opportunities, essential support services and a warm community environment.
Purchases of the elderly and disabled artisan’s handicrafts are one important way to show support for their work and their program. Through the sale of these products, which provide up to 25% of operative costs, YAD LaKASHISH: Lifeline for the Old is able to maintain its program – keeping the needy elderly and disabled alive and well within society.
Learn more about YAD LaKASHISH how you can support the elderly and disabled in Jerusalem and shop on-line at.
MAYAWORKS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A MAYAN FAMILIY
MayaWorks is a fair trade nonprofit organization that promotes economic development for Maya women and their families by supporting a marketplace for their handcrafted goods. MayaWorks believes that community development happens through the economic development of women who otherwise have limited ways to participate and contribute to the economic health of their communities.
MayaWorks partners with over 125 artisans in 6 communities along the central highlands of Guatemala. All artisans are paid a fair wage for their work. Additionally they are supported through microloans to start their own businesses, literacy and skills trainings, and scholarships to send their daughters to school.
MayaWorks Kippot are crocheted by approximately 50 Maya women who live in San Marcos and Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, on the shores of Lake Atitlan. "The women understand the religious significance of the kippot. They are a respectful culture and put a great deal of thought and care into the design and quality of the product."
In addition to a fair wage, the artisans also receive additional benefits that followMayaWorks’ fair trade principles, such as literacy and capacity building trainings,scholarships for their daughters to go to school, eye exams, and access to low interest microloans.
For more information on MayaWorks and how you can order Kippot and other products, visit their website at .
MAYAN HANDS
HELPING IMPOVERISHED GUATEMALAN WEAVERS
Mayan Hands is a fair trade organization founded in 1989. They partner with more than 150 weavers, who inhabit 8 different rural communities in the highlands of Guatemala. Together they design textiles that fit the tastes of people in the international market and then we seek out markets for them that pay a fair return to the women. Additionally, they work with other organizations to offer opportunities to the weavers in many areas, including scholarships and school supplies for their children, home improvements, micro-lending, training in new skills and techniques, as well as classes in gender awareness, domestic violence, conflict resolution, and herbal medicine.
Learn more about Mayan Hands by visiting their website mayanhands.org and support the weavers by purchasing Judaica at: .