All of the beads in this section are handmade by Acholi women in Uganda, Africa out of recycled, rolled paper.
Many women have been forced to flee their villages in Northern Uganda due to the war. We are working with and through a collective of almost 30 of these women who had to leave their home villages and have resettled in the capital city of Kampala. These women work in a stone quarry crushing rocks for approximately 65 cents per day under dangerous, dusty, hot and unhealthy conditions. Even the children must work to support their mothers' efforts to feed and clothe them, making attending school a distant dream.
However, we are working with them to create a market for their beautiful handcrafted beads. Every bead that you purchase goes toward helping these women not only feed, clothe and educate their children, but provides them with an ongoing, viable industry through which they can continue to support themselves and their families.
Late Fall 2008 update: Fabulous news!! My contact's husband just returned from a visit with the women and had amazing news to share! Several of the women are now able to bead full-time and have not returned to the quarry to work. All of the women with children are now sending them all to school! One old woman shared with him that she has now managed to have some of the funds needed to fix up her house and add a window! Additionally, one woman with 3 deaf children is now able to send her children off to a special school where they are able to receive the special training and support they need. All three are well into signing now and some of the other beaders are now learning sign language as well to communicate with them. This is certainly having an impact on the way in with the community is responding to these deaf children. I am so happy to be a part of this initiative and wanted to share with you the news that your ongoing suppport has definitely had a strong and positive impact. All too often we are left thinking that our efforts aren't large enough or grand enough to make a difference. Collectively though... we are capable of truly amazing things! Thanks to all of you for your support and interest in this project!!
Please recognise that these beads are all handmade and handrolled. Therefore, each bead will vary slightly in size. We try to differentiate by size for you but it does vary by shipment to shipment and colour to colour, representing different makers interpretations! The colours of the beads are dependent upon what paper they are able to access and purchase so the colours you see listed will all be 'one ofs'. If you like it, make sure you buy enough to complete the project that you have in mind...we will not be able to match any of the colours or patterns with future orders.
