Akola Bead Project - Ugandan Widow Bead Necklaces

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We at TheZenLily.Com are proud to support several charities which are dear to our hearts.  The Akola bead project is one charity in particular which we have contributed to over the past several months and are very excited about.  To give you a little back ground information, the  UAPO (Ugandan American Partnership Organization) created the Akola Bead Project in an effort to help Ugandan widows in rural villages gain economic independence.  Their vision is to use sales revenues to expand the project throughout Uganda so that other widows will have the chance to learn a trade and make wages to support their families. 

Photo by Will Graham

Daily Life:

     The widows get together and hand-roll the most beautiful and vibrant beads from paper and string them to form exquisite necklaces which are sold in the US and local Ugandan markets.  The word Akola in Lusoga dialect means “to work in the spirit of love.”  It is believed that through the power of love and hard work, the Akola project will provide relief and support to the struggling and devoted widows of Uganda and their children.  I have never been to Uganda and witnessed the project, but as I was doing my research, I stumbled upon an insightful blog from photographer Will Graham who became acquainted with the widows as they rolled their beads on a recent photo shoot.  His photos are not only beautifully vivid and inspiring, but compelling as well.   I was personally touched by his description of the widows as they worked. 

His blog entry is as follows:

     “These women get together once a week and make bead necklaces made out of paper. They use the time to talk with each other about the concerns of the week. Who is sick, who is hungry, who needs help with school fees, and who needs help with the kids.  It is a tight-knit group, they are tough women because they have been through a lot as women in Uganda.  I have gotten to spend the past three Saturday’s with the women. By now I know most of their names and they call me Willie. They sit in the moving shade of the large tree in front of a small mud church. I usually sit for a while before taking pictures. Trying to see what is happening in the group.

     Will Graham goes on to say that when his shoot was over, he realized that these women don’t just roll up paper into beads.  They are rolling up their hope into beads.  The beads that they make carry their concerns, their dreams, and their hopes.  They are making their hope into something beautiful.  They are Adorning Hope.

     The Zen Lily, Inc. is privileged to be able to purchase the Akola Bead Necklaces directly from a UAPO representative who works alongside the widows.  Because we believe so strongly in this cause, we sell the necklaces at cost to keep the price as low as possible to our customers.  The Akola project has employed over 120 widows in the Busoga region and 20 women in the war-torn district of Pader.  This vital project continues to expand and TheZenLily.Com’s Blog will keep you updated on its progress.

Most Recent Progress Report:

     I received a letter from the UAPO the other day which reported that thanks to our and your gracious support, the project has seen tremendous growth over the last several months.  The Akola Project has expanded to include 150 women throughout Uganda.  Through their hard work, they have generated over $20,000 in income allowing them to support their day-to-day expenses such as, pay school fees for their children, gain access to much needed medical care, purchase livestock, and start new businesses.

     The purpose for writing this blog entry is my attempt to explain how TheZenLily.Com is “bigger than jewelry”.  Typically, when I explain to people who we are and what we are doing, I feel like I always fall short in describing the full scope of our endeavor.  I am not sure that most people fully understand its philanthropic aspect.  Although we aspire to become a successful business, more importantly our focus is to make a positive difference in the world by encouraging a higher consciousness or awareness and concern for the wellbeing of our global neighbors.  To put it plainly, we want to help women all over the world “adorn hope”. 

Thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,

Lisa Otero Sullivan

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