Northview supported Ugandan women with the Beads for Life sale, December 12 and 13 during the Media Center book fair.

Bead for Life is an organization that helps women in Uganda. The women hand make individual beads out of paper and then make jewelry. They also make handmade soap, lip balm and bags. All profits go back to the organization to pay the women as well as pay for community programs that support the women such as water wells, according to community partner volunteer Rini Ng.

“When tables are set up with the jewelry, I look at it as a table of hope for the women,” Ms. Ng said. “I love sustaining and empowering these women and feel that there is a partnership because they use their amazing skills but they have no market at home so we sell them here.”

National Honors Society members on the Beads for Life committee organized the sale with Ms. Ng.

“It was really rewarding to know that I was a part of a committee that led a project that helps women in Uganda,” senior Esther Kim said. “Not only are the beads and jewelry unique, but also the fact that Northview is reaching out to a country thousands of miles away in Africa is very heartwarming.”

“The founder of the organization, Torkin Wakefield, told me that ‘not choosing a specific organization to support is the true tragedy,’ this allowed me to move forward and pick to support Beads for Life,” Ms. Ng said.

NHS became involved with Beads for Life two years ago with the help of Dining for Women coordinator and former NV English teacher, Kathy Benya, according to NHS advisor Darla Omey.

“Mrs. Benya wanted to work with a group of students for this cause,” Mrs. Omey said. “I agreed because it is a great cause that helps women by selling handmade items that many people like.”

Dining for Women also helped with the sale, with the help of Mrs. Benya, women in the organization came and worked during the sale along with NHS members, according to Mrs. Omey.

Dining for Women is a group that helps programs that support and impact women and girls in developing countries like Uganda. All of the issues and organizations they support are overseas, according to member, and retired NV French teacher, Diane Stein.

The Beads for Life sale made $1100 dollars, according to senior Lauren Lewis. Lewis and Kim were two of the members on the NHS Bead for Life Committee.

“It always amazes me how much this sale can make in just two days,” Mrs. Omey said. “People know it is for a great cause but also like the products.”

– Kaelynn Knestrick, New Editors