Akello, Florence, 25, is one of the "buyers" for BeadforLife. This means that she has an exceptionally good eye for quality and color combining and has proved her ability to distinguish the very best jewelry. She helps at each of the sales. Her own beads are small and exquisite, often bright long strings of iridescent blue.

Florence's family fled from their home in northern Uganda when she was l4 because of rebel attacks on her village. Her parents currently live in a camp for internally displaced people in the north. Florence managed to finish schooling through Senior 3, equivalent to a sophomore in high school. She is married to a man who has been a driver but is unemployed now. She has five children, the oldest is seven. She has already sent her oldest to school using her bead money.

The rest of her earning has gone to buy food and "solving other small problems." Florence is healthy and loves to play soccer for the women's team from the Acholi Quarter. She also loves traditional music.

She says that she wants to send all of her children to school so they do not get into trouble. Her dream is to make enough money to build a 2-room house. And she is so industrious that we think she may reach this goal!