About Us
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Name: Elena Rotondi
Role: Owner / TuaregJewelry.com
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
Twitter: @bazaarlife
In the fall of 2012, Elena Rotondi took over Tuareg Jewelry to grow the business and benefit the Koumama Jewelry co-op. She is optimistic about the expansion and is working to bring much needed assistance to the Tuareg people in Niger.
Elena is part of the global social entrepreneurial movement bringing change to how business is done, an increasing shift towards the triple bottom line: people, planet and profits, rather than the singular pursuit of profits. Thousands of grassroots entrepreneurs are engaging in ethical commerce, facilitating living wage jobs and encouraging consumers to vote with their wallets.
"I became involved with the Koumama jewlery co-op and Tuareg Jewelry because of the great potential to share their world class jewelry and craft to a broader audience. I have the passion it takes to help affect change through a social entrepreneur framework."
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Name: Elhadji Koumama
Role: Master Craftsman & Founder of Koumama Family Cooperative
Location: Agadez Niger, Africa
Elhadji, who lost his mother during childbirth, is now the family patriarch. With the family having abandoned the nomadic lifestyle and settling in Agadez due to a 1970's drought, he was the first to attend school and is fluent in fives languages - Tamashek, Hausa, English, French and German.
In the mid-90s the Tuareg rebellion devastated the tourist business leaving the Koumamas destitute. Elhadji persuaded his family to use their sparse funds for him to go to Lagos (Nigeria) to seek sales. His seven trips in jam-packed minibuses bore fruit. He garnered increased sales on each trip and made valuable contacts with visiting Europeans. By leveraging those contacts, an international business was soon born resulting in numerous trips to Europe and, since 2001, annual trips to the US.
Although he now devotes much of his time to developing and broadening the business, Elhadji never ventures far from his jewelry making roots. When at home in Agadez, he makes time to continue honing his skills making a variety of pieces.
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Name: Ann Elston
Role: Senior Advisor / TuaregJewelry.com
Location: Sausalito, California USA
Captivated by the Tuareg culture and people, San Francisco attorney Ann Elston created Tuareg Jewelry over 10 years ago. With passion and determination, she voluntarily created and expanded the business to a viable commercial operation and accomplished her goal of sharing the Koumama's work with the world. To ensure a long-term market for the Tuareg silversmiths, Ann is pleased to welcome Elena Rotondi to the business.
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