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"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dear Bead Circle Friends,
One of the women beaders, Joyce Ochien, died last week. No one knew exactly what killed her. Probably her immune system had been destroyed by HIV/AIDS, malnutrition made her weak, and medical care was poor or not available. Joyce, 30 something, was quiet and shy, one of the newer beaders, having joined BeadforLife in the fall. When she failed to come to the last few bead sales our home visitor, Rose, went to see her in her home. BeadforLife provided food and money for transport to the hospital. But she quietly passed away at home. She leaves behind four children who join a million other AIDS orphans in Uganda. We mourn Joyce and have enrolled her brother, who is now the guardian of her children, in BeadforLife.
6,500 people die every day in Africa from HIV/AIDS. That is more than 150,000 people a month. Every month. This is a tragedy of major proportions. But good progress is being made against AIDS and poverty in Africa and BeadforLife is determined to continue to play a part. It is for Joyce Ochein that we recommit to this work….one person at a time.
We are happy to let you know that BeadforLife will be featured in an article in the April edition of Family Circle. Read about us and pass it to a friend too!
Thanks for being part of the Bead Circle, women who care about each other and work to create a world that works for all.
Torkin and the Bead Team

Meet Mary Naiga

Mary Naiga contracted AIDS through her husband, who died several years ago leaving her, at age 25, with four small children. Taking pity, a local man let her live in a 4x7 foot mud hovel attached to the back of his house. Mary supported her family by begging neighbors to let her wash their laundry for small donations. On most days, she earned enough for only a single meal, and often fed the children but wasn't able to eat herself.

Because she had HIV, Mary was enrolled at a free hospital where she could get care. As her health worsened, the doctors recommended that she go on AIDS drugs, provided for free through the US PEPFAR initiative. But Mary had heard that these drugs increase your appetite, and refused to take them because she couldn't afford regular meals.

Mary joined BeadforLife one year ago, and since then has proven herself to be one of the most industrious beaders. She rolls beautiful beads, and has even started a small bead supply business selling to other beaders. Mary also wrote a song about how women lift themselves out of poverty by rolling beads. Because of her stable income, Mary started taking the AIDS drugs in September and her health has improved dramatically. Now she knows she will live to see her children grow up.

Mary Naiga Pic goes here

Take Action is a new feature in The Bead that outlines actions you can take to help end extreme poverty.

While it is often hard to see how government policies affect extreme poverty worldwide, development assistance we give can save lives. Today, many of the beaders are alive because of a policy that your tax dollars fund. President Bush's PEPFAR initiative provides free life-saving AIDS drugs to over 67,000 people in Uganda, and over 400,000 people with AIDS worldwide. Many of our HIV+ beaders get medication through PEPFAR, without which they likely would have died. (See profile of Mary Naiga).

Because US generosity can have such a direct impact, BeadforLife believes in a proactive government response to extreme poverty. Right now, the US Congress is deliberating on next year's budget which could provide desperately needed funds for basic education, fighting tuberculosis and AIDS, micro finance, and other development projects that target people living on less than a dollar a day.

Call or write your representatives today to urge them to fight for assistance for the poor. Or, Click Here to email your representatives right now through the website of RESULTS, an organization encouraging citizens to make their voice heard on poverty issues.

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Clay Aiken's Fandom Finds BeadforLife
In the past year BeadforLife has received support from many unexpected groups. One of these is the fans of pop music star Clay Aiken, an American Idol super star singer. In 2005 Clay, who cares about the welfare of children, was a UN ambassador to Uganda. He came to witness the plight of the children made refugees by the war in Northern Uganda. More than half of the beaders are refugees from this war. When he returned a fan spotted Clay wearing a paper bead necklace given to him by a young Ugandan. A goggle search by fans, who call themselves "The Fandom", quickly brought them to BeadforLife.

Since then individuals in the Fandom have sponsored almost thirty Bead Parties before Clay's concerts and are planning others during the summer tour.

Thank you, Fandom, for selling and buying the beads, like the beautiful orange bracelet that Clay wears. We are proud of you for caring about the displaced and the poor in Uganda.
"Appoiyo MaTai" Thank you in Luo from all of the beaders.

As you celebrate the beautiful colors of spring think about sharing these colors with loved ones through our beautiful beaded jewelry. Our items can be thoughtful gifts for Easter and Mother's Day, for birthdays, and appreciation gifts.

New items in the WebStore!

• Jewelry Bags from beautiful hand printed fabrics are ideal for traveling and make great gifts. $15
• BeadforLife Note cards show touching photos of the radiant beaders and their families. $15 for eight cards
• Bangle bracelets offer pizzazz to any outfit. Wear a bunch of them! $5 each

Check out these and other items at our webstore:

Your gift gives twice; once to the lucky recipient and once to the woman who made the beads.