URI helps Zanzibar women learn jewelry trade

On the island of Zanzibar, traditionally men have been the fishermen, and women cut wood, charcoal and gravel for a living.

But with the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Services Center there to teach better environmental practices, another empowerment opportunity was realized—helping the local women make jewelry from seashells.

“Being excited about the environmental protection and then getting and income and seeing how the products are improving, how they’re learning English and marketing…it’s fantastic,“ said Elin Torell of the URI Coastal Services Center.

Six Zanzibar women are in Rhode Island for a month-long Pearl Cooperative Learning Tour with the state’s rich jewelry manufacturing industry through a cultural exchange grant from the state department.

“CRC means a lot to them. It is great, created a lot of benefit to them. They were in darkness. Now they open their eyes and see the light,“ said Narriman Saleh Jiddawi.

Through the program, the women have already learned how to implant buttons in oysters to produce half pearls, to polish and cut shells, and to make jewelry.

“She hopes for it to not only be for her benefit, but also to her kids, to her neighbors,“ Jiddawi said. “She hopes that they will do the same thing because they will be training them when they go back.“

Over the next two weeks, the group will also be at places such as American Mussel Harvesters learning different aspects of the trade.

“I think we’re a wealthy nation, and I think it will be great to help other people in this world,“ said Bill Silkes, of American Mussel Harvesters.