IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
EditorsMar 10, 2016
T.I.A., Part 4: Visiting a Maasai School in Tanzania
In the last installment of a multi-part series about her trip to East Africa, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator discusses visiting a rural Tanzanian school that the jewelry and gemstone industry is helping.
As often as it’s said and as cliché as it can sound, travel really can change your perspective.
For me, those occasions popped up every day when I was in East Africa. Seeing the way the gemstones were mined, meeting people and hearing how they lived--it was brand new and completely eye opening.
Professionally, the trip was beyond measure in what it taught me.
For me, those occasions popped up every day when I was in East Africa. Seeing the way the gemstones were mined, meeting people and hearing how they lived--it was brand new and completely eye opening.
Professionally, the trip was beyond measure in what it taught me.
I jumped in to take a picture with the kids.
But personally, one of the most profound moments happened when we took a trip out to the Kitarini Maasai Children’s School in rural northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, where more than 400 children from the Maasai tribe attend classes. (Side note: for a great read about the Maasai people, check out the autobiography The Worlds of Maasai Warrior.)
The connection to the school originally came through a miner Roger Dery knows, Sune Merisheki. Sune has been involved since he first drove past the “school” and saw that they had no buildings or materials, and he and his wife Pia have been doing what they can to bring money and resources to Kitarini. Since then, a number of buildings have been constructed and more is, hopefully, to come.
One of the obstacles a place like Kitarini faces is that many of the children have to walk a few miles each way every day to get to school, so attendance remains an issue. What’s more, it’s hard to attract good teachers who will move out there and stay in an area with such a hard lifestyle.
The students loved having their pictures taken and then getting to see themselves on the screen afterward. Photo credit: Dan Lynch
One of the reasons we went out to visit Kitarini was to give them the new books that our group had collected. Roger and Ginger partnered with a number of jewelry stores across the country who had collected books from their local community for kids of all ages. Others in the group also brought books and supplies.
The kids also were excited for us to be there because they knew we’d be handing out something special--candy. They lined up and patiently waited as we gave them, one by one, a lollipop.
The smiles on their faces after such a small gift, and their excitement later as the whole group received two new soccer balls to play with, was something so touching I can’t even put it into words.
It takes a special type of experience to force you to acknowledge how blessed you are and what you’ve taken for granted, and it’s an experience I wish everyone could have.
The children at Kitarini are entranced by the selfie stick.
Thank you to all of those who allowed me this opportunity of a lifetime--Roger and Ginger Dery; Nancy Schuring, Joe Portale and the Devon Foundation; Gichuchu Okeno; my National Jeweler team for supporting me while I was off the grid for a couple weeks; and our owner, Jewelers of America. This was one trip that will not soon be forgotten.
There is so much good work to be done for these communities still.
If you’d like to give money to help some of these projects that I’ve talked about in my T.I.A. blog series, donate to the Devon Foundation, which helps build up and support the gemstone communities in East Africa. Debbie Swinney is the primary contact for the foundation, and she can be reached at debbie@devonfinejewelry.com or at 201-848-8489.
If you’re interested in taking a trip to East Africa with Roger and Ginger, you can reach out to Roger directly at gemdigital@cs.com, Ginger at gingerdery@gmail.com, at 248-545-3546 or via SpectralGems.com.
More on Editors
The Latest
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
CrimeOct 30, 2025
29-Year-Old Man Charged in Multiple Seattle-Area Smash and Grabs The suspect faces charges in the August robbery of Menashe & Sons Jewelers and is accused of committing smash and grabs at two pawn shops.
Lab-GrownOct 30, 2025
Alison Lou’s New Collection Uses Lab-Grown Diamonds and ResinThe “Lumière Fine” collection was born from designer Alison Chemla’s interest in the transformative power of light.
