There are times when I wonder what would happen to me and my three kids if (God forbid!) I suddenly lose my husband. I shudder thinking about it but the worrywart in me sometimes can’t help but do so. I imagine it will be extremely difficult. Even if I’m sure our relatives and friends would be there to help us out, I would be the sole parent to my kids. Scary thought. My logical self would reason out that I’d manage somehow because I have two college degrees, have achieved some MBA units and have successfully worked in several companies for the past 13 years. I am lucky I have my education and work experience to fall back on. Some women aren’t so lucky.
Some of the women I’m talking about are those impoverished Ugandan women artisans who have no or little education and work experience that will help enable them to sustain their families. It’s a good thing though that now, at least some of them are being helped by an organization called 1000 Shillings. 1000 Shillings is an organization that helps impoverished women around the world by giving their limited edition, high quality products an international market. This gives the women a platform to share their stories and at the same time earn seed capital for their own business.
1000 Shillings empowers women to use their skills as artisans to bring their families out of poverty. They give these women a voice to share their stories to consumers, who will in turn care about her cause. What’s more is that they also educate these women by pairing them with mentors who teach them how to start and sustain a small business.
Currently, 1000 Shillings helps six (6) single mothers from the Namatala slum in Uganda. They are the first women to produce products for 1000 Shillings. These ladies are Elizabeth, Veronica, Aidah, Martha, Annette and Esther. Read all about their heartbreaking yet inspiring stories by clicking on the links. You will be amazed by their strength, diligence and commitment to creating a better life for themselves and their kids. Also amazing are their beautifully-crafted paper bead jewelry that only sells for $15 – 28 USD. Here are my favorites among their designs.
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| The Annette |
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| The Elizabeth |
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| The Martha |
What I love most is the Martha style. It’s available in various colors. I plan on buying this red one on the photo. What’s your favorite? Buy now and you’ll be helping these women and their families have better lives.
For more information on these amazing women and 1000 Shillings, visit their website. You can also check out the 1000 Shillings Facebook Page and Twitter account.
