Najemba Mariam has a quick smile and cheerful disposition. She is 32 years old and has three children, ages 15, 13 and 10. Her husband is an engineer, but he is now sick with AIDS. She is also HIV+ and her 10-yr.old is as well; before BeadforLife she could not pay for treatment, but she is now getting treatment for herself and her son.

She has been making beads for two years. Before that she was cultivating yams and selling some in a village near Kampala. She is now able to pay school fees, get food for her family, and has bought some furniture for her small house. She has saved a down payment to start building her new house at the BeadforLife Village in Mukono.

Completing the Circle
The Triple Strand Necklaces