How do old magazines and calendars end up lifting Kenyan and Ugandan women out of poverty? By being transformed into trendy and colorful fair trade beaded jewelry.
Recycled PaperThe women cut long, triangle-shaped strips from the paper and roll them up tightly then apply a non-toxic sealant.
When the beads are dry, the women string them into beautiful jewelry, each piece unique to the individual artisan who created it.
Both Kenya and Uganda have suffered devastating droughts, drying up pastures and the income cattle generated. To make up for the lost income, many of the women crushed rocks by hand, barely eking out a living.
Recycled Paper
Now, these women earn five to seven times more as fair trade employees. Instead of sitting on rock piles, they work in the comfort of their homes, homes they bought themselves with their income. They can rest at night, knowing there will be food on the table the next morning for their children.
Reducing waste, reducing poverty, raising hopes and dreams-all rolled up into beautiful beads.
Stephanie King
Fair Trade Designs
