Shop The Pikolinos Maasai Project Collection for Mother’s Day and Win a Maasai Collar Necklace!

Congrats to our winner Lauren!

Being that Mother’s Day is literally around the corner this year I’ve been inspired to think outside the box when it comes to gift giving thanks to my meeting with inspiring Kenyan leader and Maasai Tribal Chief who is championing for women’s rights in his community, William Kikanae Pere, at Harry’s Shoes in NYC! William was in NYC this weekend to promote and present the Pikolinos Maasai Project Collection, a design collaboration program lead by Spanish footwear brand Pikolinos where the profits go back to the Maasai Mara women involved and I got an opportunity to chat with him and preview the collection ( which is simply breathtaking). And the best part-consider me your Hip and Fun Fairy Godmother here to sprinkle your Mother’s Day celebration holiday with some good cheer-I’m also sharing an opportunity to win some bling a Maasai Collar Necklace ($44.80). Keep reading for all the deets about this inspiring program and how you can nab this gorgeous necklace I’m wearing in this pic below!

So what is Pikolinos – The Maasai Project? Entering its sixth year, the Maasai Project is a design collaboration program with Pikolinos and the Maasai Mara in Kenya and Tanzania where the profits are given back to the Maasai women involved to provide hope and opportunity for a sustainable future through building their own economic resources while empowering women with greater rights and employment.

The Project is promoted and supported without losing sight of the culture and values of the Maasai community. The pieces of leather are cut in Spain to conform to the Maasai designs, and then sent to Maasai Mara, where they are distributed among the Maasai manyattas (encampments) involved in the project.

I got a chance to chat with William Kikanae Pere about this great social program that has grown to employ over 1,600 women and makes tangible contributions to the fight against global poverty with every shoe, handbag and jewelry sale! In this video below Kikanae Ole Pere, or William, as we know him in the West, a Maasai warrior, declared leader of his community due to his efforts over the years to provide for his tribe shares his story. One day his path crossed with Rosa Escandell, President of the NGO ADCAM, and together they started this long journey to raise awareness in the Maasai community that they have a future to build: that the Maasai should have their own economic resources other than from tourism, that women could own property and make decisions, that girls should not get married before they are 18 and, of course, that all children should get an education.

Profits from the Maasai Project has enabled small business growth and adult training for the Maasai as well as built primary schools, water sources, medication and more for the community while keeping their traditions alive.

So this Mother’s day when you are considering getting that mom in your life a special gift why not check out some of the gorgeous handcrafted items from The Pikolinos Maasai Project Collection- they’ve got gorgeous bags too like this Massai one below- and PAY IT FORWARD!

And we are giving away one of their stunning Maasai Collar Necklace‘s to one lucky reader!

Maasai Collar Necklace bursts with the color and strength of the Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania. Part of the Pikolinos #MaasaiProject, the piece is hand-made by the women of the Maasai Mara community with proceeds from the sale going back to the women who created it. Each item is unique with colors and detailing slightly differing from piece to piece, bringing you the magic of the Savannah. Beads are made of glass with aluminum discs that will not tarnish.

For a chance to win you MUST like The Pikolinos Facebook page. For a second entry you must like The Staten Island Family’s Facebook Page. For a third entry you must like Pikolinos on Instagram . For a Fourth entry you must like MelissaSChapman on Instagram. For a Fifth Entry you must follow Pikolinos_Shoes on twitter for a sixth entry you must follow MelissaSChapman on twitter. Good luck giveaway ends May 7th!

This post is part of a sponsored conversation with Pikolinos but as is always the case all opinions expressed are my own.