A COLOURFUL slice of African artwork is bringing early Christmas cheer to Bolton’s Market Place shopping centre.

Africa Exposed sells hand made Kenyan craftwork gift items made from carved soapstone and wood, as well as a selection of jewellery and bags.

And by buying from the stall, shoppers will help Kenyan families help themselves as they receive FairTrade prices for their work which enables them to send their children to secondary school and buy basic goods.

Africa Exposed was set up Kenyan expatriate Nellie Hyacinthe, who encouraged Kenyans to become involved in making high quality hand made crafts which she could sell for them in this country.

She said that establishing standards for goods sold in this country enables Kenyan families to support themselves while remaining faithful to their traditional way of life.

UK-based mother of three grown-up children Mrs Hyacinthe said: “Every time I returned to Kenya, I saw families who were worried about not being able to afford the fees to send their children to school.

“Before I got involved, there many middle-men and agents who took most of the money and sometimes the quality of the work was not up to standard.

“Many of the workers are young mothers who make the bags and jewellery while the men traditionally make the soapstone and wooden carvings. But I wanted to get the young people involved to help them develop their creativity and to keep them busy.

“The aim is to get them working in an enabling environment within their own communities which means they can earn enough money and look after their families.”

She is working closely with Business Solutions and the North-west Development Agency and wants to expand her scheme to include anyone, here in the UK or in Kenya, who has the drive and ambition to further themselves.

She wants to create employment by inviting many people to work together at exhibitions and other events.

She said: “I have built up Africa Exposed for two years or so and I would say it has helped about 100 children to pay for their school fees.

“People in Kenya are hard working, intelligent and creative and I want to help them realise their skills to earn money so they can pay for school fees and buy other basic commodities. I believe where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

The stall offers carved handicrafts, textile and fibre prints, small musical instruments and carved bookends.

The stand will be there until Christmas.