This Christmas, give a unique gift handcrafted by refugee artisans!
Looking for meaningful Christmas gifts or striking Christmas decorations?
This year, JRS UK is proud to stock crafts and cards from Mikono – The Refugee Craft Shop.
Established in 1993 as part of the livelihoods programme of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Kenya, Mikono – meaning ‘Hands’ in Swahili – promotes the economic inclusion of refugees by connecting traditional artisanal skills with global markets.
Learn more about the Mikono Story
Gifts with a story
When people are forced to flee their homes, they often leave behind not only their possessions, but also their jobs, businesses, and livelihoods.
Mikono supports refugee artisans to earn an income through their craft expertise, helps them form strong artisan groups, and links them with fair trade buyers worldwide so that they can support themselves.
With beautifully crafted products ranging from homeware, to jewellery, to greeting cards, there’s sure to be something for everyone on your list.
Like this one-of-a-kind cotton tapestry made using the batik dyeing technique. Artists draw on the cloth with wax to prevent colour absorption during the dyeing process, creating a patterned negative when the wax is removed. A beautiful gift for art lovers to hang on their walls, for only £25.
Or these Agaseke (in the Kinyarwanda language) baskets woven in the traditional Rwandan style. Made from natural sisal, these pointed baskets serve as functional art to store fruit and veg or other trinkets. Grass baskets were traditionally used in Rwanda to carry gifts and other valuable items given to a friend or relative. Now you can gift your loved ones this symbol of peace, love, and prosperity, with prices ranging from £5-£13 depending on size.
And of course no decoration captures the story of Christmas better than one hand-crafted by someone who has experienced being forcibly displaced and needing to seek refuge. Choose from colourful, hand-woven angel figurines for £6, a wooden and fabric decoration depicting Mary and Joseph’s Way to Egypt for £15, an 11-piece hand-carved nativity set for £30, and more.
A beautiful gift for your loved ones this Christmas
This Christmas, give a meaningful gift that celebrates creativity, talent, and craftsmanship while helping to support refugees internationally and here in the UK.
Whether you’re shopping for family, friends, or your own homes, every purchase is a gift of solidarity with refugees here and abroad, as well as a beautiful handcrafted item.
Shop Mikono gifts for Christmas
