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 provide income while recovering from 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 I decided to invest in the group of ladies and have made arrangements with a Rotarian friend in Kampala, Joseph, to purchase almost 500 of the necklaces so others can enjoy this gift and help make a difference in the lives of the women who make them.
The Rotary Club of Waterdown, Ontario (the sponsor club that sent Mark to Africa) is helping with the sales and will be working with the Rotary Club of Muyenga to distribute the funds. They will also be applying for a matching grant that could possibly double the proceeds raised!
ABOUT THE GROUP
There are currently 21 women in the group, all who are HIV positive. Their ages range from 24 to 60years 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. The reason behind this is that they lack capital to start some small businesses.
They all work hard so they can afford to care for their families and pay for school fees for their children.
We thank the many volunteers that have made this project possible especially Joseph Kasozi. The proceeds from this project will go to The Rotary Club of Muyenga - Disrict 9200 to be distributed to the women who create the beads. This ensures that all the proceeds can reach their intended destination and can be carefully monitored. The money will go towards healthy food, medicine and schooling for their children.
You can learn more about the beaders, see photos, read the travel blog from the trip and, of course, buy some necklaces!
