Our Story

When traveling through East Africa in April and May of 2007 as a member of a Rotary project, I met a patient at the Mildmay AIDS hospital who was creating necklaces from strips of discarded calendars and turning them into handmade beads. Each necklace was unique and absolutely stunning. She was doing this to make an income while on treatment for HIV/AIDS. I purchased a few as gifts for friends and family back home in Canada.

Everyone I gave one to loved how beautiful they were and how something so simple was having a big impact on the lives of women in Uganda. They couldn't believe they were made from paper! These gifts were so well received we decided to invest in the group of ladies and have made arrangements with our Rotarian friend in Kampala, Joseph, to purchase the necklaces so others can enjoy this gift and help make a difference in the lives of the women who make them.

We have continued to work with the group of ladies at Mildmay who make the necklaces. We purchase them fair trade (they make them independently and set their own prices). We also work with local Rotary clubs in Ontario who work to match the funds we raise and we team them up with the Rotary Club of Muyenga to impliment the projects in Uganda. This ensures that the proceeds can reach their intended destination and be carefully monitored.

ABOUT THE GROUP
There are currently 21 women in the group, all who are HIV positive. Their ages range from 24 to 60 years old. Several of the women are widows; most have several children (as many as 11 children!). One of the beaders has lost her arm and still continues to hand roll the beads.

The aims of this group are;
i) To prevent stigma from those people with HIV
ii) To fight discrimination among them
iii) To teach them on how to earn a living.

All of them have no profession and have no other side income apart from making necklaces and bags. They all work hard so they can afford to care for their families and pay for school fees for their children.

THANKS
We couldn't do this without you, each necklace purchased is makes a huge impact on the lives of so many people in Uganda. We'd also like to thank the many volunteers that have made this project possible especially Rotarian Joseph Kasozi of The Rotary Club of Muyenga - Disrict 9200.

You can see photos, read about our first completed water project, learn more about our necklace ladies, read the original travel blog and, of course, buy some necklaces!