Our wonderful PAPER BEADS from UGANDA come from Project Have Hope, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that seeks to empower women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda by providing education to both the women and their children and assisting the women to establish business opportunities to promote economic stability and sustainability. They are a member of the Fair Trade Federation.

The women use a variety of paper to make the beads. They purchase “reject” paper from a local printing press in Kampala and also use scrap paper from outdated calendars or political ads, for example. Despite appearances, the beads are not dyed or painted. Paper is rolled into beads, and the color of each bead simply comes from the paper used to make it. Once the paper is rolled into a bead, it is dipped in a clear varnish to give it sheen, hardness, and durability.

We believe education is integral to achieve sustained success. Our goal is to provide education, at all levels, to each woman. Many of the women have never attended school and are unable to write their names or do simple arithmetic. Others have a basic education, but not enough to allow them to obtain jobs in fields that would enable them to earn a greater income. By providing education across the board, we are not only empowering the women, but also, giving them the much needed tools that will help them to create a brighter future.