BEADS OF HOPE

Eternal Threads met Rafiatu Adams in 2010 just as she was graduating from the University of Ghana with a Degree in Sociology. She grew up in a small rural community in the Upper East Region of Ghana that is among the poorest and most underprivileged regions in the country. Rafiatu was nearly given in marriage to an elderly man at the age of 16 when her father died. Through hard work and courage, she was determined to make something of her life and get back to her community to make an impact.

She helped fund her college by selling beaded bracelets on campus and in the city on her days off. After graduation, she returned to her community of Paga to start a project aimed at economically empowering women. The goal was to help the women create an alternative source of income through jewelry making with recycled glass beads. “I wanted to give them income so they would not travel to the capital city looking for work, and end up on the streets as I had seen so many girls before.” 

The Beads of Hope project currently trains women in jewelry making and sewing after which they are given start up kits to make their products. They are hoping to establish girls empowerment clubs to mentor and bring up underprivileged girls to realize their full potential in life, and organize literacy classes for the women. Rafiatu started working with 20 women and now provides income to 75 women, as well as providing school supplies and sponsoring the education of girls in the community.

Beads of Hope needs funding to continue their incredible work and expand and grow to find more ways in which to market their goods, and give these rural women even more ways to earn livelihood for their families. Rafiatu’s current initiative is to provide the women with chickens so that they can provide food tor their families, but also earn income from selling them in the marketplace.  We would love to have you partner with us!  Rafiatu works tirelessly for these women.