For the last 21 years Africa’s longest running war has ravaged the northern regions of Uganda, home to the Acholi people. Over 2 million people fled their homes to seek safety. Some made it as far as Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, where they could only find refuge in a hillside slum, now called Acholi Quarter.

Acholi Beads is an amazing new “socially proactive business.” They really work to improve the world. Here’s how:

• They employ people affected by war and injustice in Uganda
• They use their brand to share their story with the world
• Their products are made from recycled paper
• They support efforts to bring peace and development to northern Uganda

The beads are made by the refugees living in the Acholi Quarter slum. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, the sale of Acholi Beads provides a vital income and helps share their story with the world.

The beads are made from recycled paper from local printers. They are made by men and women whose families are, in the terminology of international aid and development, ‘vulnerable.’ This means that they don’t have a safety net. If something goes wrong they don’t eat, don’t get medicine, don’t go to school. Acholi Beads are made by 10 people from such families and are helping them go from vulnerable to successful.

I’m proud to say that I’m a part of this project. If you are interested in purchasing some of this beautiful, handmade African jewelery to support the refugees in the Acholi Quarter in northern Uganda, please contact me.

Please use the following links to learn more about the struggles of the Acholi people:

• Invisible Children’s history of the conflict
• UgandaCAN’s timely updates
• Resolve Uganda’s opportunities to get involved
• The Enough Campaign to End Genocide’s analysis of the problems and solutions in northern Uganda
• The Acholi Beads blog, which has updates on major happenings concerning the Acholi people