Bead for Life is a nonprofit group that works to fight poverty. The idea is to help Ugandan women find markets for their jewelry, improve their business skills and change their lives.
BOB DOUGHTY: Devin Hibbard says thousands of women in the United States and around the world have organized Bead for Life parties to sell the beads.
DEVIN HIBBARD: "We came up with this idea of a bead party, which is a woman taking beads to her community, to her house, to her children's school and sharing the beads and the story of the women who make them."
The organizers say that last year, three thousand bead parties worldwide raised three million dollars. They say the Ugandan women are paid first, and the rest of the money is reinvested into education and community development projects in Uganda.
TORKIN WAKEFIELD: "This particular woman started a sweater business, she put a solar panel on top of her shop to charge cell phones. She has chickens out back. She was able to begin several businesses and she’s now employing people.”
JUNE SIMMS: Stories like that inspired guests at Madison Blandford's party.
The jewelry party raised about one thousand dollars from the guests. It also raised their awareness of people in a far-away country.
BOB DOUGHTY: Brianna Blake produced our program, with reporting by Shelley Schlender, June Soh and Faiza Elmasry. I'm Bob Doughty.
JUNE SIMMS: And I'm­­­­­­­­ June Simms. You can find videos about the bead parties, the Better Block project and the mascot camp at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also read, listen and learn English with our programs and activities. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.
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2013-11-25
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