bead jewelry - beautiful paper bead jewelry and paper beads from ugandan women working their way out of poverty

“Samuel came by the shop and smiled at me and would buy a soda for me. I decided to go with him. After I produced a child he began to yell at me. He threw me out one night…”

I am interviewing ten of our beaders over two days. I am struck at how I have heard the basic elements of Stella’s story repeatedly throughout these interviews. Stella’s story sounds like too many sorrows for one heart to bear. And yet her story is repeated over and over again by girls and women all over the world.

The terrible truth is if you are born poor and female in many parts of the world, your’s will be a lifetime of despair. You will probably be less wanted, unprotected, under educated, deprived of health care, discarded, sexually and physically abused, and a single mother of many children. You will drift from one man to another hoping for shelter and food for you and your children. You will often be scorned and turned out with your children, your possessions taken from you. 

Statistics indicate that there are 100 million missing females throughout Asia alone. They are missing because of female infanticide, inadequate health care, and not being fed as well as boy children. Women die in childbirth or from beatings and abuse. Many millions are enslaved as house help or sex slaves. Women are killed for stepping out of their demeaned place, for refusing sex, for daring to talk back or take a stand. 

The degradation of women is the greatest human rights issue of our times. Research has shown repeatedly that investing in women and educating girls are two of the most successful development strategies.  Women who are educated and have a little money invest it in their families, in sanitation and health, in businesses. They educate their children. Educating girls and investing in women can change whole societies. See www.thegirleffect.org.

Stella is now sending her four children to school. Asked if she wants to marry she looks perplexed and replies, “Why would I want to do that?  I already have my children. And now I can take care of them and myself and no one will drink the money.”

To get involved in helping women make the world a better place please give someone beads from the Bead Store. Now is also the time to sign up for a holiday BeadParty. They are great fun and are a manifestation of the spirit of the season. The schedule can fill up so to get the date you want please sign up now.

Thank you for helping Stella and all of the other Ugandan women in BeadforLife.
Happy fall from all of us at BeadforLife.

Torkin Wakefield
Co-executive Director