Kitengela Hot Glass and Anselm Croze create blown objects, dalle de verre, chandeliers, lamps, beads and full interiors from recycled glass in Kitengela, Kenya.

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Our Community
Despite being a small company, Kitengela Hot Glass assists as much as possible with the local and
wider communities. Its broad-ranging contributions include following Fair Trade guidelines; paying About Us
a staff of 35 well above standard wages; and providing them with loans, transport, medical, and The Studio
controlled working hours and conditions. The studio also supports the local school in Tuala by Our History
supplying desks, chairs, water during drought season, exam and reference materials, and The Experience
storybooks. Our Community
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“We’ve also granted individual scholarships for the local orphanage,” says Anselm. “We’ve
planted trees, repaired roads and collected garbage. Our directors donate time to charities and
have assisted in raising up to Ksh 4 million/year. This money is allocated on a case-by-case basis via
The Craft Fair Trust
In addition, Kitengela Hot Glass donates more than 30 raffle prizes to a myriad of causes annually.
In the coming years, the company is planning to focus on local adolescents in its vicinity. The goal
here is to help them to better connect with their environment (e.g., via tree planting, creating a
nearby park) and resident wildlife. Kitengela Hot Glass’s hope is that these efforts will stimulate
greater appreciation for and pride in the “neighbourhood” among the young.
“The picture below is of Oloosirkon Government Primary School/Shilinge Primary School and
Emakoko Primary School children being visited by the Chanuka Express mobile bus,” explains
Anselm. “Its aim is to uplift young people through literacy and practical life skills education.
Kitengela Hot Glass also funds monthly subscriptions to the Chanuka Express children’s newspaper.
”
One local student, Dennis Mokua, graduated at the top of his class from Oloosirkon in December
2010. He scored 335 marks out of 500 which equates to a “B” average. Dennis’s ambition is to
become a doctor. Ktengela Hot Glass paid his secondary school fees and expenses for 2011. He
finished his first year in secondary with a B+ and was 6th out of 119. His results after his first term this
year are again a B+ and he is 6th out of 136. We would like to move him to a school that would
give him a more rounded vocation but are hampered by our lack of knowledge in this area. If
anybody has any suggestions we would love to hear them.
“What Dennis has achieved is very impressive,” Anselm comments, “especially when you consider
the difficult learning environment at a poorly-funded school. In fact, Oloosirkon pupils depend on
World Food Programme rations for lunch and must carry drinking water from their homes because
our local river has become too polluted.”
In the Neighbourhood
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2. ROLF’S PLACE:
Rolf Schmid, the owner/chef and managing director, has worked as an executive chef for major
hotel chains all over the world. He has owned nine top restaurants in Kenya. Needless to say, his
food rises to international standards. Meanwhile, Rolf’s Leopard Cliff Mansion, a boutique hotel
situated on the same property, overlooks Nairobi National Park and is accessed by a suspension
bridge that’s straight out of Indiana Jones.
Chanuka Express
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