Uganda Beads

On a trip to Uganda Darlene and Richard Winter of Citronelle came across a woman selling beautiful beads. The woman owned an home for AIDS orphans and supported the fifty children by selling the beads they made. The Winters realized they could help sell the beads in the U.S. and now import the jewelry and return all the money they make.

by Jere Hough

Published: Thu, December 06, 2007 - 4:26 pm CST

The United Nations recently reported that AIDS remains an epidemic in Africa. In the country of Uganda, the U. N. estimates that one in sixteen adults is infected. The death rate is high, and there are many AIDS orphans...some of whom are getting a helping hand from Darlene and Richard Winter of Citronelle.
In Jinji, Uganda, they met a woman, Miss Agnes, selling beads made by the youngsters in her orphanage. Darlene Winter recalls, "When I saw them I was just blown away. I thought, 'How beautiful.'...We bought all the necklaces from her that day that we could. And when we came home I asked my husband Richard, 'Do you think we could we sell these necklaces here in the States?' and he said, 'We sure can.'"
They've been selling beads for about four months now and have sent a total of about $5000 to Miss Agnes.
Darlene reports proudly, "In her letter that she sent us was, 'I was able to get them some meat which they had not had in some time.' And with the second money we sent she was able to put all 50 children in school. You have to pay to go to school in Uganda."
The boys and girls make the beads themselves from triangular strips of paper...usually from magazines.
Darlene describes the process, "They take the wide end, and they just start rolling it with their fingers until they get to the end and then they secure it with a little glue"
The beads are strung and dipped in varnish to seal them.
Pastor Henry Ssevviiri, visiting the Winters, lives in Jinji and has watched the orphanage struggle. "Look at these children here. They've got no parents. They've go no one to care for them. Miss Agnes takes them in. And she's on the verge of giving up and taking them back to nowhere. And the Winters come in, and it's like the hand of God is over this orphanage and there is a feeling of hope."
The Winters hope to raise enough money to dig a well close to the orphanage. There is also no electricity for the facility.
Thatbead money goes a long way in Uganda. To feed and house the fifty children costs only about $10,000 per year. If you'd like to buy some of those beads, you can contact the Winters by email. They will bring the beads to festivals and conferences. Their email address is winterrb7@netzero.net.

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nancy Says:

Thu, Dec 06, 2007 at 9:44 pm

I would love to purchase some of those beaded necklaces so as to help those orphans get a good education and to help get them electricity and a well. Let me know where you will be soon as you know, either at a conference or a festival. God bless your work.
You are definitely two of God’s precious angels at work. We need more like you two.

Nancy C