At BeadforLife, we call Namutebi, Josephine “Jaja” (grandmother) because she is sixty years old and caring for her grandchildren. Jaja has had a difficulty life. She had eight children, but six of them have died as adults from AIDS. She is now the primary caregiver for four grandchildren, three of whom contracted HIV from their parents. Jaja is married, but her husband had cancer and his leg has been amputated so he can’t do much work. Her one living son tries to contribute to the household, but recently fell from the roof of a house he was helping to build and was injured.

In order to support herself and six other people, Jaja used to work for other people hoeing their fields for planting, which is backbreaking physical labor. Now she supports her whole family by rolling beads. Although Jaja is the oldest beader in the Nsambia group, she is the life of the party. Whenever there is singing, she is out there dancing, smiling, and sharing her love with all of us. Jaja dreams of sending all her grandchildren to school.