Beads for Water
Empowering women through jobs and providing clean, safe water to communities in need!
Just One Africa has created a unique opportunity to empower women, by partnering with amazing Maasai mamas to provide sustainable income AND a whole lot of clean water for Kenyan communities. We purchase recycled paper bead necklaces upfront from these women at fair trade prices and then partner with US-based students and volunteers to string them into bracelets. All of the profit from the purchase of these beautiful bracelets are used to fund our Clean Water Program. Pretty simple, don’t you think? It is world changing also, to the tune of 200,000 gallons of clean water per bracelet! With the purchase of one of our recycled paper bracelets, you literally can change the world for someone – it really is that easy!
Maasai women create the custom beads from recycled paper
The recycled paper beads are made in Southern Kenya by a talented group of Maasai women artisans. For many of the women making these beads, this is their sole means of income. These beads are made from recycled magazine paper that the Maasai women cut into a variety of widths creating small, medium, and large beads. Some of the beads are left just as they are making them a limited edition color, while others are dipped into food grade dye creating a rainbow of gorgeous colors which are perfect for stacking into beautiful combinations!
Beads are purchased, providing sustainable, fair-trade income
We have found that by working directly with the women of the community an immediate impact is felt on the children with greater food security, funds for medical care, and school fees. Since the start of the bracelet project in 2014, we have seen the positive impact on the families in the surrounding communities of Loitoktok and Kimana as transforming from within. It has allowed the women to come together around an income generating project of their choice and to build relationships, share advice, learn about women’s health, and have some basic education provided by our local leaders. As other Maasai women in the community hear about how this program is impacting these families, interest is rapidly growing. Women who do not know how to make the recycled paper beads can come and be trained by the other women. The bead making project is run in Southern Kenya by our dedicated local leader, Dorcus Parit. This has provided opportunities for community building, women’s education, skills training, sustainable income, clean water for all their homes and surrounding villages, and most of all, hope.
US based students and volunteers help make bracelets
After the beads are brought back to the US, we work closely with volunteers to create the world changing bracelets. The response to starting ‘I am One’ Clubs in local schools has been overwhelming! The ‘I am One’ Club gives middle and high school students the chance to “Be the Change” by volunteering to help string the recycled paper beads into bracelets. The students can earn service hours. The volunteer efforts are used to create all our bracelets, which are sold in our online store and also at local events. We have worked with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and youth groups. We offer corporate team building as well as home stringing parties. Young people changing the world, JUST ONE bead at a time!
Water filters distributed to Kenyan communities
Since all of the recycled paper beads are strung by volunteer labor, we are able to pass 100% of the profit to our Clean Water Program. Each bracelet purchased is 1/5 of the cost of the water filter system. Therefore, a JUST ONE bracelet is able to provide 200,000 gallons of clean water; that translates into 5 people for 10 years! Each water filter provides up to 1,000,000 gallons of CLEAN, SAFE water for 25 people for 10 years!
We use all the bracelet funds to purchase water filters and distribute them to communities in Kenya that already have access to water but need an easy way to clean it. We have distributed the filters in orphanages, schools, hospitals and clinics, rescue centers, and communities throughout Southern and Western Kenya. The funds generated by the recycled paper bracelets alone have allowed us to distribute over 1600 water filters since the start of the program in late 2014. This has provided over 40,000 people with clean water for life! Changing the world isn’t so hard after all!
How can you help?
Did you know, there are over 44 million people living in Kenya, of which almost 18 million (43 percent) do not have access to clean water. A true water crisis. Over 3,100 children die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation in Kenya. You can make a difference and help end that.
Donate
Your generous, tax-deductible gift will keep our work going. Every dollar you invest will go directly to accomplishing our life-changing programs.
Shop for Good
Shop our online store to find fair trade African handmade jewelry. 100% of your purchases fund our clean water and sustainability projects in Kenya.
Shop for GoodGet Involved
Everyone has a role to play, and there are many ways to make a difference. We believe it just might change your whole world as well. We have some ideas for you!