Pippa's Zindagi Charity Necklace Origin Story

I wanted to talk about our Zindagi Now charity necklace and its origins. This piece comes from a project our partner in Afghanistan, Mohammad, and I started nearly four years ago. Zindagi Now means ‘A New Life’, and we set up an NGO to work and train men and women in Afghanistan to learn the skills of gem-cutting, silversmithing, goldsmithing, and design; to provide a livelihood skill. This necklace is made by the women of Zindagi Now, and it’s made of Lapis Lazuli, which is the Afghan national stone. Lapis Lazuli comes from Badakhshan in the Hindu Kush; it is the most beautiful gem of the deepest and incredibly pigmented blue. 

The most wonderful part about this project is to see all of the women who have gone through the course and learned these new skills, and how excited, how proud and empowered they are by the act of making. The art of creating, this ability to take materials and transform them into something new with their own skills is transformative for their lives.

100% of the profits from selling these necklaces go to funding this project, and they make such special gifts: made by women, for women and men to wear and enjoy. The message, meaning, and purpose of this gift are huge.