Wellesley High School seniors Sophie Cushman and Megan Shields are spearheading a jewelry sale on Saturday, May 7 to help the South African women who make the jewelry as well as raise funds to aid orphans within the KwaZulu region. Money raised for the kids will be used to purchase everything from food to computers to books.
The students’ effort is part of a senior project during which they have worked with a Wellesley-based African support organization called Thanda and researched conditions in the KwaZulu region.
“A few years ago I went on a trip to South Africa with my parents,” Cushman says. “The country was so beautiful but there was also so much poverty; we were familiar with Thanda because of a project that was done at the High School a few years ago and it seemed like a great cause to donate our time to.”
The jewelry will be available for sale on Saturday, May 7 at 99 Parker Rd. in Wellesley from 1-5pm, as well as at Senior Presentation Night at WHS at 8pm on May 18. The unique beaded jewelry mostly costs from $10-$30, though other items range from $40-$70.