This trade relationship is currently not active.

 

Profile of CONTIGO´s partner BeadforLife

Products

Recycled jewellery made out of paper

Location

Kampala, Uganda – distance to Europe: 6,100km

Founded in 2004

History

• 2004: NGO BeadforLife founded by Torkin Wakefield, Devin Hibbard, Ginny Jordan, and Millie Grace Akena from Uganda
• Founders inspired by the bead makers in the slums of Kampala
• BeadforLife teams established in:

1. Kampala/Uganda
2. Boulder, Co./USA
3. Montpellier/France (started in 2009)

• 2009: CONTIGO meets BeadforLife

Cooperation with CONTIGO since 2010

Structure of the organisation

Number of employees:

• 390 seamstresses and bead makers
• 540 employees employed by these bead makers
• 2,880 people derive their livelihood (directly and indirectly) from the craft

Organisation of workforce:

• BeadforLife is an NGO
• Members are organised into 5 groups with 85 members each
• Members receive orders from BeadforLife twice a month
• Members are mainly young mothers, disabled people, widows, people misplaced by war, and people infected with HIV
• New members are recruited through visits to the slums and HIV centres

Sales

Exports (100%) to Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, England, and Belgium

Goals

• To alleviate extreme poverty
• To special help for/recognition of women
• To create and save jobs

Special features

• Social engagement in Uganda:
  • Rural development programmes
  • Programmes for teenagers with HIV/AIDS (Power of Hope)
  • Collecting donations for medical treatment of refugees in northern Uganda
  • Sponsoring the costs for paediatric chemotherapy (children’s cancer charity Uganda)
  • Payment of a bed in the International Hospital of Kampala to treat emergency cases
• Organisation of BeadParties (USA, England, France): selling paper jewellery and informing attendees of the work in Uganda
• 100% of net earnings are invested in projects serving communal well being

Why does CONTIGO work with BeadforLife: BfL enjoys a good international reputation. They have transformed from a NGO into a economically self-sustaining project. The future prospects for the partnership are great.

 

Fairtrade classification

FTA= Fairtrade in Progress, a visit in Uganda has not taken place as yet.

 

Fairtrade aspects

BeadforLife complies with the following Fairtrade Principles:

No child labour

No discrimination

No discrimination due to gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political orientation, or infection with HIV

Fair wages

• Average wage at BeadforLife: US $275

Humane working conditions

Working hours:

• 15-35 hours/week

Social benefits:

• Malaria testing and treatment
• Free HIV tests for all employees and children
• Health training
• Partial payment of mosquito nets, contraception, and glasses
• Support for employees to found their own businesses (including training for starting a business, help with creating custom savings plan, and accessing financial help)
• House building program targeted at the bead makers

Educational opportunities:

• Start-up trainings for women so they can launch own business
• Work orientation programme for teenagers from poor families
• Classes on health (prevention and treatment)
• Training:
  • Duration: 27 months
  • Month 1 to 2: learn beading and basics for production of necklaces
  • Month 3: courses on saving money, family planning, health
  • From month 6: training in starting a business
  • After 13 months: collecting first practical experiences in starting and running a small business
  • After 27 months: the women should be independent from the organisation and running their own business

Transparency

• Payroll is available
• Pay slips are available
• SAR (Self Assessment Report) was duly submitted to CONTIGO

 

Monitoring

• Member of:
  • Fair Trade Federation (FTO)

 

Country information

See Encyclopaedia Britannica: Uganda

 

Photos

10 years of BeadforLife

Production

 

 

 

Stories of success:

Grace Aol, 49: “I was afraid to hold a pen, but the literacy classes let that fear disappear.”

 

Fatina Apio is happy that she can dance in a circle, as it is custom in Uganda, with other members of Bead for Life. They celebrate their new lives without poverty together.

 

Shalila Musa is a great example for women that gain increasing independence due to technology: “I am happy that I am registered with Mobile Money. I can withdraw money in many places and if my purse ever gets stolen I can withdraw money and continue with my business. I also use it to pay the school fees at Bushenuyi for my son.”

 

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