Erika Tempel

For over 25 years, Erika has dedicated her life to the art of beading and the empowerment it brings. She founded Kioni with a clear purpose: to create real opportunities for women in South Africa’s rural communities.

Recognizing that many women couldn’t travel to formal jobs, Erika built a model that brings the work to them—training artisans, creating fair income, and fostering self-reliance through craft. Her mission goes beyond jewelry; it’s about dignity, confidence, and lasting change for families and communities.

Each bead strung continues the vision she set out with decades ago: transforming lives through skill, education, and meaningful work.

Rita Moshabe

Rita’s story is woven into Kioni’s foundation. For over 20 years, she has worked alongside Erika to turn beading into a force for opportunity and growth.

She began with no formal training on a rural game farm in South Africa, learning the craft bead by bead. Through master beading courses and sheer determination, she evolved from novice to expert, mastering both the art and the teaching of it.

Fluent in five languages, Rita became the bridge between diverse communities—training and mentoring hundreds of women with patience, humor, and empathy. Her ability to connect across cultures has been key to expanding Kioni’s reach and impact.

Today, as a partner and site manager, Rita leads the team that crafts every Kioni piece. Her journey reflects what we stand for: skill, independence, and the shared strength that comes from meaningful work.

Lizelle Steenkamp

For over two decades, Lizelle has used design as a tool for impact. Trained as both a graphic and jewelry designer, she’s devoted her career to creating opportunities for underserved communities through creativity and craft.

At Kioni, Lizelle bridges artistry and purpose. Her jewelry designs do more than celebrate beauty—they generate income, independence, and pride for women who face barriers to traditional work.

She believes in the transformative power of design, where every thoughtful detail can tell a story or open a door. Through Kioni, Lizelle continues to prove that creativity paired with compassion can change lives, one design—and one bead—at a time.