"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
2010 a year of Blessings and 2011 a year of Opportunities.
I sometimes don’t really like traditional New Years celebrations. Maybe it’s all those New Years Resolutions or the ‘Norman Rockwell’ image of the holidays that I seldom seem to live up to. My listings of accomplishments at the end of the year, is frequently shorter than the goals I’ve written for myself twelve months earlier. Over the years, I’ve taken to practice self-forgiveness and trying to be easier on myself. Still a work in progress, quite honestly.
However, I am very proud of the accomplishments at The Mission Marketplace. This past year, we:
· Continued to experience different cultures through our monthly International Book Club, in partnership with the McKune Memorial Library,
· February Chocolate Extravaganza, Fair Trade Chocolate Making demonstration and our second Fair Trade Trunk Show and free Chair Massages,
· Participated in the Sounds & Sights Festival and were blessed by performances by Chelsea’s own Soft Serve Symphony,
· Sounds and Sights Festival Weekend and our third Fair Trade Trunk Show and offering Henna Tattoos,
· Attended numerous off-site Sales including the Ann Arbor Alternative Christmas, Plymouth GreenFest and the Presbyterian Covenant Gathering,
· Gave numerous talks about Fair Trade to the Senior Center, Rotary and the Eastern Michigan Graduate Business School Young Entrepreneurs’ Program,
· Participating in the Planning of the community’s ‘Differences without Divisions’, Islam in America programming, and providing space for movies/discussions for CANOPAS (local Peace Advocacy group),
· Offered ‘The Bittersweet World of Chocolate’ class to the Adult Learner’s Institute,
· Began ‘social-marketing’ thru FaceBook, Blogging and the local Chelsea Hotels media outlets,
· Participated in our annual ‘Wine, Women & Shopping Event’, free Chocolate and Chair Massages,
· Offered support to the Seventh Grade Middle East Bazaar,
· Supported youth in ‘Reverse Trick or Treating’ at local Senior Centers,
· Wrote 4-part series for Fair Trade Month on the ‘Faces of Fair Trade’,
· Supported the Hometown Holidays with a Chelsea Employee discount and ‘Bag-it’ promotion as well as a lovely – lit elf passing out light sticks and walking in the Light Parade, as well as donating 10% of sales to Faith in Action (local food bank),
· Had the opportunity to be profiled on Michigan Magazine and the Lucy Anne Lance radio programs,
· Presentation about Fair Trade at the US Social Forum in Detroit,
· Attended the Fair Trade Futures Conference in Boston,
· Helped in the formation of the Fair Trade Independent Stores (FTIS) organization designed to foster communication/support and mentorship to other independent Fair Trade Stores.
As I peruse this list, I’m honored by the opportunities this business has afforded me and inspired by the encouragement/support and love that you offer The Mission Marketplace. We are so proud to be a part of this community and plan to be here throughout 2011 and beyond.
Blessings to you and yours,
Kevin Frahm
Executive Director
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
A-Z of Supporting Fair Trade - 'Z' is for Zikomo kwambiri
As we finish our 26-day exploration of Fair Trade, I close with Zikomo kwambiri.
ZIKOMO KWAMBIRI is THANK YOU VERY MUCH in Chichiwa, a language spoken in South Africa and Malawi. That is what, I humbly want to say to each and everyone of you.
Years ago, when we started The Mission Marketplace I had no idea of the kindness, support, laughter and love that this community would show us. I am ASTONISHED by your actions. This is only a partial list of my blessings, (if I've forgotten anyone or thing, please blame it on lack of sleep/overload of gingerbread and old-age).
Zikomo kwambiri to our non-profit Board of Directors,
Zikomo kwambiri to excellent Staff (past & present), Marilyn, Sarah, Jennifer,
Lorna, Cynthia and Kat,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Volunteers,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Fair Trade Suppliers,
Zikomo kwambiri to my Michigan (and outside MI) Fair Trade Store friends,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Artisan Partners,
Zikomo kwambiri to the Chelsea business Community (neighbors/DDA/Chamber),
Zikomo kwambiri to other Chelsea Non-profits,
Zikomo kwambiri to Chelsea activists,
Zikomo kwambiri to the McKune Memorial Library, Bill & Staff,
Zikomo kwambiri to the Chelsea Cooperative Preschool,
Zikomo kwambiri to Chelsea Schools, students and Teachers,
Zikomo kwambiri to Soft Serve Symphony,
Zikomo kwambiri to our upstairs neiughbors who listen to drumming and the gong being
hit aprox 20 times a day,
Zikomo kwambiri to ourcustomers for theircontinued patronage, their stories, their
jokes and their belief that our actions in our day-to-day activities do make a
difference,
Zikomo kwambiri to those who get our Non-profit mission and chose to support our
vision for the future with a charitible donation, and
Zikomo kwambiri to my family for putting up with me.
I try to wrap my head around the number of these gifts that will be given tomorrow, the smile on the giver's face, the joy on the receiver's heart and the Hope in the lives of our Artisan Partner's lives and know that our small part in that miracle makes me ASTONISHLINGLY BLESSED.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's to ALL!
Kevin Frahm
ZIKOMO KWAMBIRI is THANK YOU VERY MUCH in Chichiwa, a language spoken in South Africa and Malawi. That is what, I humbly want to say to each and everyone of you.
Years ago, when we started The Mission Marketplace I had no idea of the kindness, support, laughter and love that this community would show us. I am ASTONISHED by your actions. This is only a partial list of my blessings, (if I've forgotten anyone or thing, please blame it on lack of sleep/overload of gingerbread and old-age).
Zikomo kwambiri to our non-profit Board of Directors,
Zikomo kwambiri to excellent Staff (past & present), Marilyn, Sarah, Jennifer,
Lorna, Cynthia and Kat,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Volunteers,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Fair Trade Suppliers,
Zikomo kwambiri to my Michigan (and outside MI) Fair Trade Store friends,
Zikomo kwambiri to our Artisan Partners,
Zikomo kwambiri to the Chelsea business Community (neighbors/DDA/Chamber),
Zikomo kwambiri to other Chelsea Non-profits,
Zikomo kwambiri to Chelsea activists,
Zikomo kwambiri to the McKune Memorial Library, Bill & Staff,
Zikomo kwambiri to the Chelsea Cooperative Preschool,
Zikomo kwambiri to Chelsea Schools, students and Teachers,
Zikomo kwambiri to Soft Serve Symphony,
Zikomo kwambiri to our upstairs neiughbors who listen to drumming and the gong being
hit aprox 20 times a day,
Zikomo kwambiri to ourcustomers for theircontinued patronage, their stories, their
jokes and their belief that our actions in our day-to-day activities do make a
difference,
Zikomo kwambiri to those who get our Non-profit mission and chose to support our
vision for the future with a charitible donation, and
Zikomo kwambiri to my family for putting up with me.
I try to wrap my head around the number of these gifts that will be given tomorrow, the smile on the giver's face, the joy on the receiver's heart and the Hope in the lives of our Artisan Partner's lives and know that our small part in that miracle makes me ASTONISHLINGLY BLESSED.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's to ALL!
Kevin Frahm
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - 'Y' is for You!
'Y' is for You.
Yes You.
Thank You for all that You do for the small scale producers, for the support You have given to The Mission Marketplace. Every little bit You do makes a big difference, so keep on recommending us to your friends both in person and on FaceBook, keep on shopping with us and keep on buying Fairtrade. We are blessed! Thank You.
Yes You.
Thank You for all that You do for the small scale producers, for the support You have given to The Mission Marketplace. Every little bit You do makes a big difference, so keep on recommending us to your friends both in person and on FaceBook, keep on shopping with us and keep on buying Fairtrade. We are blessed! Thank You.
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade -'X' is for 'eX-Xenophobe.
Who know when we embarked on this alphabetic trip I'd have to come up with something for 'X'.Well here goes...
Xenophibia, according to the dictionary is defined as; –noun, an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.
Although Fair Trade is primarily focused in developing countries, we at the Mission Marketplace also try to support Domestic Fair Trade, however it is the artisans in developing countries I want to focus on.
We are fortunate to have a great community partner in the McKune Memorial Library in sponsoring an 'International Book Club'. Each month we travel and experience lives of other families around the globe and share our common experiences. Please check out our website and consider joining us.
The 'educational' component of Fair Trade is creating an environment of cultural appreciation and understanding. Our artisans are just like us, they struggle with many of thesame struggles we do. I've often said that when my children were born I realized that the love and hope for the future I feel when I look in my children's faces is special but not unique. Parents around the globe love love their children with the same love and passion that I feel.
I am fortunate to have been born in the United States, and although we are not without trials and tribulations here, and we have our own citizens struggling. The one thing about Michigan and the United States is that when their is a need elsewhere, that is when we are at our best. We are the first to respond, not necessarily because we are charitible (which we are), but because it is, quite simply, the RIGHT thing to do.
Xenophibia, according to the dictionary is defined as; –noun, an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.
Although Fair Trade is primarily focused in developing countries, we at the Mission Marketplace also try to support Domestic Fair Trade, however it is the artisans in developing countries I want to focus on.
We are fortunate to have a great community partner in the McKune Memorial Library in sponsoring an 'International Book Club'. Each month we travel and experience lives of other families around the globe and share our common experiences. Please check out our website and consider joining us.
The 'educational' component of Fair Trade is creating an environment of cultural appreciation and understanding. Our artisans are just like us, they struggle with many of thesame struggles we do. I've often said that when my children were born I realized that the love and hope for the future I feel when I look in my children's faces is special but not unique. Parents around the globe love love their children with the same love and passion that I feel.
I am fortunate to have been born in the United States, and although we are not without trials and tribulations here, and we have our own citizens struggling. The one thing about Michigan and the United States is that when their is a need elsewhere, that is when we are at our best. We are the first to respond, not necessarily because we are charitible (which we are), but because it is, quite simply, the RIGHT thing to do.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
A-Z of Fair Trade - 'W' is for Water
Water is the most valuable resource on the planet and it is gradually coming to the forefront as quiet global crisis.
Not just access to clean, safe drinking water but also the volume of water required to meet the demands of industry and agriculture. We need to piece together the dots...no country's crisis is in isolation and the sooner world leaders realize this the sooner they can act.
Johannesburg - ‘Concerned with a cholera threat from its northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, South Africa could be overlooking a creeping water crisis of its own, as ageing infrastructure and rising demand spew potentially deadly bacteria into its water systems.
When apartheid crumbled in 1994, an estimated 14 million South Africans lacked access to a formal water supply, and about half the country - 21 million people - had no formal sanitation, according to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
Since then, access to water has increased dramatically, but backlogs persist: in 2008, about 5 million people were still in need of adequate supplies, while three times more - 15 million people - lacked basic sanitation.
The quality of municipal drinking water is monitored monthly, with nearly all municipalities reporting an acceptable standard of water. However, outdated infrastructure and problems in retaining skilled staff have contributed to what DWAF admits are unacceptably high levels of pollution in some rivers and dams.
South Africa's tap water is among the best in the world, according to DWAF spokesperson Linda Page. But with millions still lacking access to flush toilets and piped water, the threat of waterborne diseases cannot be ignored, she said.
In 2008, half of the municipal water supplies surveyed in Western Cape Province, on the country's south coast, had high levels of the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria, according to a study released by the provincial DWAF.
In impoverished districts like Ukhahlamba, in neighbouring Eastern Cape Province, the problem is even more extreme. In 2008, Ukhahlamba reported levels of E. coli and other bacteria that were so high in some parts of its water supply it had been forced to issue "boil alerts" and supply water to severely affected communities by tanker trucks, according to presentations made to parliament in June.
Though E. coli can sometimes be traced back to certain industries, it is often taken as an indication that water supplies were recently contaminated with human or animal waste. That problem is being exacerbated by the first heavy rains of the 2009 season, which can wash contaminants into water systems.
Municipalities across the country have blamed poor water quality on a lack of resources and capacity that has put far too much strain on ageing water treatment plants. In 2004 South Africa had just 15,000 civil engineers, with the bulk in the private sector and only 11 percent working for local government.
With its source high in the Drakensberg Mountains, the Vaal River stretches more than 1,000km to become the main tributary to South Africa's longest waterway, the Orange River. It feeds large portions of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area, the country's economic heartland, as well as most of the northern Free State Province.
It has also, in some areas, registered high enough levels of faecal matter to warrant Rand Water, South Africa's largest bulk water utility, to warn that contact with the river may put people at risk of serious infection.
One of the major problems is that our system is very old - our pump station is giving us problems, almost everything is giving us problems.
Every year thousands of tourists flock to the towns that dot the banks of the Vaal. In sleepy Parys, visitors make up a vital part of the local economy, but in December, when the extent of the pollution became known, the town lost about US$180,000 a week in cancellations. According to businessman Carl Cilliers, who runs a resort on the river's edge, a repeat performance could put him and his family out of business.
Local wildlife is also struggling to cope with the environmental impact. Recently, court-ordered contractors removed 20 tonnes of dead fish after a local NGO, Save the Vaal River Environment (SAVE), took the local Emfuleni municipality to court for leaking millions of litres of raw sewage into the river. SAVE said the pollution had contributed to stomach and intestinal disorders among nearby residents.
In its defence, Emfuleni municipality - well aware of its failing pumps and ageing infrastructure - argues that it lacks the finances and capacity to correct the situation.
"One of the major problems is that our system is very old - our pump station is giving us problems, almost everything is giving us problems," said Mojalefa Radebe, media relations officer at the municipality's Water Service Unit. In 2007, the municipality ran an operational deficit of about US$4 million, with an outstanding US$2 million debt to Rand Water.
Dr Roman Tandlich, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Rhodes University, in Eastern Cape, and former fellow of the university's Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, said surface streams and rivers like the Vaal were the sole source of water for many people living in informal settlements, as well as rural and peri-urban areas.
While Tandlich admits there are backlogs in the provision of drinking water and sanitation, and that mistakes have been made, he also stresses the complex environment in which post-apartheid service provision operates.
For instance, standard sanitation systems are problematic in townships, and systems based on ventilated pit latrines, where an additional ventilation shaft is dug alongside the main hole to reduce odour and the presence of flies and mosquitoes, are being explored.
Studies from Ghana have shown that extremely high levels of government subsidy are needed to fund conventional sewage systems, while ventilated pit latrines have proven to be a cost-effective alternative.
"[The] backlog in service delivery is huge in South Africa," Tandlich said. "Mistakes have been made in the past, but it also has to be stated that some challenges are so unique that no easy answers or parallels to draw on exist."
DWAF's Page said funds have been put aside to address problems in infrastructure, as well as the issues of budget management and skills shortages'.
Not just access to clean, safe drinking water but also the volume of water required to meet the demands of industry and agriculture. We need to piece together the dots...no country's crisis is in isolation and the sooner world leaders realize this the sooner they can act.
Johannesburg - ‘Concerned with a cholera threat from its northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, South Africa could be overlooking a creeping water crisis of its own, as ageing infrastructure and rising demand spew potentially deadly bacteria into its water systems.
When apartheid crumbled in 1994, an estimated 14 million South Africans lacked access to a formal water supply, and about half the country - 21 million people - had no formal sanitation, according to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
Since then, access to water has increased dramatically, but backlogs persist: in 2008, about 5 million people were still in need of adequate supplies, while three times more - 15 million people - lacked basic sanitation.
The quality of municipal drinking water is monitored monthly, with nearly all municipalities reporting an acceptable standard of water. However, outdated infrastructure and problems in retaining skilled staff have contributed to what DWAF admits are unacceptably high levels of pollution in some rivers and dams.
South Africa's tap water is among the best in the world, according to DWAF spokesperson Linda Page. But with millions still lacking access to flush toilets and piped water, the threat of waterborne diseases cannot be ignored, she said.
In 2008, half of the municipal water supplies surveyed in Western Cape Province, on the country's south coast, had high levels of the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria, according to a study released by the provincial DWAF.
In impoverished districts like Ukhahlamba, in neighbouring Eastern Cape Province, the problem is even more extreme. In 2008, Ukhahlamba reported levels of E. coli and other bacteria that were so high in some parts of its water supply it had been forced to issue "boil alerts" and supply water to severely affected communities by tanker trucks, according to presentations made to parliament in June.
Though E. coli can sometimes be traced back to certain industries, it is often taken as an indication that water supplies were recently contaminated with human or animal waste. That problem is being exacerbated by the first heavy rains of the 2009 season, which can wash contaminants into water systems.
Municipalities across the country have blamed poor water quality on a lack of resources and capacity that has put far too much strain on ageing water treatment plants. In 2004 South Africa had just 15,000 civil engineers, with the bulk in the private sector and only 11 percent working for local government.
With its source high in the Drakensberg Mountains, the Vaal River stretches more than 1,000km to become the main tributary to South Africa's longest waterway, the Orange River. It feeds large portions of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area, the country's economic heartland, as well as most of the northern Free State Province.
It has also, in some areas, registered high enough levels of faecal matter to warrant Rand Water, South Africa's largest bulk water utility, to warn that contact with the river may put people at risk of serious infection.
One of the major problems is that our system is very old - our pump station is giving us problems, almost everything is giving us problems.
Every year thousands of tourists flock to the towns that dot the banks of the Vaal. In sleepy Parys, visitors make up a vital part of the local economy, but in December, when the extent of the pollution became known, the town lost about US$180,000 a week in cancellations. According to businessman Carl Cilliers, who runs a resort on the river's edge, a repeat performance could put him and his family out of business.
Local wildlife is also struggling to cope with the environmental impact. Recently, court-ordered contractors removed 20 tonnes of dead fish after a local NGO, Save the Vaal River Environment (SAVE), took the local Emfuleni municipality to court for leaking millions of litres of raw sewage into the river. SAVE said the pollution had contributed to stomach and intestinal disorders among nearby residents.
In its defence, Emfuleni municipality - well aware of its failing pumps and ageing infrastructure - argues that it lacks the finances and capacity to correct the situation.
"One of the major problems is that our system is very old - our pump station is giving us problems, almost everything is giving us problems," said Mojalefa Radebe, media relations officer at the municipality's Water Service Unit. In 2007, the municipality ran an operational deficit of about US$4 million, with an outstanding US$2 million debt to Rand Water.
Dr Roman Tandlich, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Rhodes University, in Eastern Cape, and former fellow of the university's Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, said surface streams and rivers like the Vaal were the sole source of water for many people living in informal settlements, as well as rural and peri-urban areas.
While Tandlich admits there are backlogs in the provision of drinking water and sanitation, and that mistakes have been made, he also stresses the complex environment in which post-apartheid service provision operates.
For instance, standard sanitation systems are problematic in townships, and systems based on ventilated pit latrines, where an additional ventilation shaft is dug alongside the main hole to reduce odour and the presence of flies and mosquitoes, are being explored.
Studies from Ghana have shown that extremely high levels of government subsidy are needed to fund conventional sewage systems, while ventilated pit latrines have proven to be a cost-effective alternative.
"[The] backlog in service delivery is huge in South Africa," Tandlich said. "Mistakes have been made in the past, but it also has to be stated that some challenges are so unique that no easy answers or parallels to draw on exist."
DWAF's Page said funds have been put aside to address problems in infrastructure, as well as the issues of budget management and skills shortages'.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - 'V' is for Values
Value for the Holiday's is always the Holy Grail. What shopper doesn't want to get the most value for his or her dollar. We at The Mission Marketplace are proud to be Chelsea's Fair Trade Store but even more proud to be Chelsea's fairly-priced Fair Trade store.
But what about VALUES!
Fair Trade is about honoring both the producer AND the recipient of our gifts. It is about living our values. Buying a Fair Trade gift is like giving a gift twice. It is truly in the spirit of Christmas, giving, but is it NOT charity, it is using our purchasing power, in line with our values, to make a World of Difference.
But what about VALUES!
Fair Trade is about honoring both the producer AND the recipient of our gifts. It is about living our values. Buying a Fair Trade gift is like giving a gift twice. It is truly in the spirit of Christmas, giving, but is it NOT charity, it is using our purchasing power, in line with our values, to make a World of Difference.
Monday, December 20, 2010
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - 'U' is for Uganda
Sorry folks, I missed posting yesterday (too many Gingerbread men, family movies and shopping) so today you get a TWO-fer.
The war in northern Uganda raged for 22 years, making it Africa's longest running conflict and as one senior U.N. official described it "the world's worst neglected humanitarian crisis." Out of this conflict and turmoil rose a monster and his horrific army. Since its founding in 1988, Joseph Kony’s - Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – has subjected civilians to brutal attacks, rape, torture, extra-judicial execution and destruction of homes and communities. The LRA systematically abducted children for use as soldiers. Up to eighty percent of the group's military force was made up of child soldiers. The threat of violence left civilians at constant risk of indiscriminate attacks and displacement. The LRA is still in existence but has moved across the border into the Congo.
Fearing the LRA thousands of northern residents fled to the far south of Uganda. Many of these people ended up in the IDP (Internal Displaced Persons) camps. One of these areas, located outside of the capital city of Kampala, is known as the Acholi Slum or Acholi Quarter due to the large population of persons from Acholiland in the north. Approximately 10,000 people are living in this area donated by a tribal king. The term camp is used loosely. While the King’s charity was wonderful for the people, it was very simply a large plat of land donated for them to settle. There is no infrastructure. There is no sanitation system, no garbage removal, there are less than 10 of 4000 homes with power and only a couple sources of running water.
The major struggles for the inhabitants are similar to other IDP camps and poverty stricken areas. Namely - starvation, poor sanitation, psychosocial trauma, lack of education, and HIV/AIDS. Malaria is a major issue and young children are losing their lives. With very few opportunities, women are forced to work in the quarries crushing rock by hand. Working all day, exposed to the weather and dust, they can earn the equivalent of 75 cents. They do not earn enough for health care, education or savings for future needs. There is certainly no hope of business or home ownership. They can do nothing but afford their basic life needs of food and shelter. There is no opportunity for escaping this cycle of extreme poverty. Of utmost concern to the adults is their realization that with no access to education, their children are doomed to the same fate.
Ugandan PaperBead jewelry are made from recycled paper by poverty stricken people in the displaced person camps of Kampala, Uganda.
Quite literally, each purchase recycles hope. Without the option of making jewelry, the people would be forced to work long hours of extreme physical labor in rock quarries to earn just enough to avoid starvation.
Each product sold provides a way for them to make above average wages and be at home with their families. Each piece of jewelry sold provides them with funds that are used for food, shelter, healthcare and school tuition. These funds are also used for art and sports programs for children.
You will look beautiful in these stunning pieces.
The war in northern Uganda raged for 22 years, making it Africa's longest running conflict and as one senior U.N. official described it "the world's worst neglected humanitarian crisis." Out of this conflict and turmoil rose a monster and his horrific army. Since its founding in 1988, Joseph Kony’s - Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – has subjected civilians to brutal attacks, rape, torture, extra-judicial execution and destruction of homes and communities. The LRA systematically abducted children for use as soldiers. Up to eighty percent of the group's military force was made up of child soldiers. The threat of violence left civilians at constant risk of indiscriminate attacks and displacement. The LRA is still in existence but has moved across the border into the Congo.
Fearing the LRA thousands of northern residents fled to the far south of Uganda. Many of these people ended up in the IDP (Internal Displaced Persons) camps. One of these areas, located outside of the capital city of Kampala, is known as the Acholi Slum or Acholi Quarter due to the large population of persons from Acholiland in the north. Approximately 10,000 people are living in this area donated by a tribal king. The term camp is used loosely. While the King’s charity was wonderful for the people, it was very simply a large plat of land donated for them to settle. There is no infrastructure. There is no sanitation system, no garbage removal, there are less than 10 of 4000 homes with power and only a couple sources of running water.
The major struggles for the inhabitants are similar to other IDP camps and poverty stricken areas. Namely - starvation, poor sanitation, psychosocial trauma, lack of education, and HIV/AIDS. Malaria is a major issue and young children are losing their lives. With very few opportunities, women are forced to work in the quarries crushing rock by hand. Working all day, exposed to the weather and dust, they can earn the equivalent of 75 cents. They do not earn enough for health care, education or savings for future needs. There is certainly no hope of business or home ownership. They can do nothing but afford their basic life needs of food and shelter. There is no opportunity for escaping this cycle of extreme poverty. Of utmost concern to the adults is their realization that with no access to education, their children are doomed to the same fate.
Ugandan PaperBead jewelry are made from recycled paper by poverty stricken people in the displaced person camps of Kampala, Uganda.
Quite literally, each purchase recycles hope. Without the option of making jewelry, the people would be forced to work long hours of extreme physical labor in rock quarries to earn just enough to avoid starvation.
Each product sold provides a way for them to make above average wages and be at home with their families. Each piece of jewelry sold provides them with funds that are used for food, shelter, healthcare and school tuition. These funds are also used for art and sports programs for children.
You will look beautiful in these stunning pieces.
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