If you are interested in any product, and require a price list, please
e-mail:
ajfsareg@maf.or.ke OR mvilika@gmail.com
Sincerely
Dorcus Beads
September 2009
Friday, September 5, 2008
Table Mat Sets: Code L1
The Mats are made from 'raw dorcus beads', the beads that are specific for this products go through a double process, to protect the beads from any direct contact with alot of heat.
They come as a set of five products; One Large Mat, with four smaller sets. These together with the purses are hard products to produce.
Dorcus Beads: Baskets and Coasters
She has been making the baskets for the last twenty years of her life; She made the baskets to find money and educate her twelve children over the years. She is a determined woman and says she takes atleast two days to finish one basket.
She is now using the dorcus beads to decorate and add flavor to the products; her daughter in-law has also been assisting and they are also connected to the team producing the loose beads. She has also begun to make fibre coasters ( sets of six) with the dorcus beads on the ends.
Purses: Code K1 & K2:
The Purses are made from 'raw dorcus beads', with a soft material to bandage the inside;
Code K1: Purses without a handle
Code K2: Purses with a handle ( The handles are also made from 'raw dorcus beads'.
This is one of the hard products to produce as the women say.
Impact and Transfer...
As part of the connection to the making of these beads, women in a rural village in Kenya, informally have transfered the concept from one place to another. The transfer has been to other women in the village who have other businesses and also to homes, to schools through children and peers.
We visited some of the women who are running this business and had an opportunity to visit two homes that are making loose beads to sell to the 'core group of that village in Kenya'. Some of the key changes we heard in the homes as a result of this bead making have been..
1) Children when they come back from school, they work hard to roll enough beads so that they can make money to be self-reliant to purchase their own books.
2) Child headed households, making choices and learning on what is a priority on spending the money after they sell the beads. Three small beads are sold at ksh.1 Young families that are involved in this loose beads making are finding ways to secure their future and influencing other neighbours to be more proactive in eradicating poverty. As they sit together each evening to make the beads, they are able to talk about the day, and other reflections which never happened before.
3) As these women get together, they talk to each other on how to take care of children, references on where to get medication if one of them is sick; they visit each other, they strengthen each other by being 'present together'. They are educating their children and contributing to their families.
4) Young people are finding confidence in themselves that they can also do it.
5) Other women who have other businesses, instead of gossiping or lingering around waiting for customers, have indulged themselves too in making the beads to supplement their income. The relationships in the villages and community are being strengthened as people talk together.
6) Husbands of some of the women are determined to find the raw materias in the city; and support their wives who are making and selling these Dorcus beads products. The change in the homes is profound and shows how a family stands together when 'change' is evident.
Loose Beads: Codes G1 - G4
The Loose beads are also available;
For further details on how to access the loose beads from small to the Extra large size, please e-mail:
mvilika@maf.or.ke; OR ajfsareg@maf.or.ke
Thank you
Dorcus Beads
For further details on how to access the loose beads from small to the Extra large size, please e-mail:
mvilika@maf.or.ke; OR ajfsareg@maf.or.ke
Thank you
Dorcus Beads
Jug Covers: Code L1:
The jug covers are made from clear 'net' material; and are weaved in with small masai beads, and the specific dorcus beads that are made from recycled magazines.
Necklaces: Mixed Long
The Necklaces can be worn on multiple layers, depending on you. They could also be folded to make multiple bracelets as we have seen seveal men do.
Belts: Code J1 - J2:
Belts come in two types:
Code J1: These are made with beads
Code J2: These are made with straws.
Stories from women
Onyango mily is a widow 36yrs old. She takes care of 5children of her own and 5 orphans from other families who have vanished through HIV/AIDS. Her husband died 5yrs ago and because of the war she ran away from the trouble to find peace in the city. She ended up in Naguru slums where she was able to find a one roomed muddy house where she now lives with the children. She joined the group 3yrs ago where she acquired the skills very first. "Can now make the best beads" Milly speaks out proudly. I have managed to rent a room where I live with my children. At least all my children go school. I buy books and all school requirements. With the money I get from the beads, I have been able to buy food for the family, though we can only afford one meal a day.
I now walk with Dorcus our group leader to other communities to train other women with the skills we have acquired. I feel very proud to be called a teacher even when I have never gone to school!. I have HIV, but don't think about it anymore. I keep my self busy learning more skills. I pray that we get better market for our products, and then we can live a better life with our orphans.
I now walk with Dorcus our group leader to other communities to train other women with the skills we have acquired. I feel very proud to be called a teacher even when I have never gone to school!. I have HIV, but don't think about it anymore. I keep my self busy learning more skills. I pray that we get better market for our products, and then we can live a better life with our orphans.
Edonga Grace from Uganda
Grace is a widow 45yrs old. She lives with 5 children of her own and 4 orphans that she picked up. She lives in one roomed house with all these children. Apart from making beads, she also goes around cleaning rich peoples compound where She little more extra money. She left Northern Uganda in 1999 when the war became worse and after she had lost her husband Through HIV/AIDS!
"If it wasn't for beads, I would be dead by now!" Grace exclaimed I get most of my income from making beads. I have to find food, medication, rent and other needs for the family. I have trained two of my children to make beads so we can get more money for the family. When we make more beads, we get more money. I also make bags from the straws, banana stems and palm leaves.
I am asking God to help us find market so that we can buy a machine to cut our own papers. That will be cheap for the whole group. The Salvation Army has helped us so much by sending people to train us in these skills. We can face the future now!
"If it wasn't for beads, I would be dead by now!" Grace exclaimed I get most of my income from making beads. I have to find food, medication, rent and other needs for the family. I have trained two of my children to make beads so we can get more money for the family. When we make more beads, we get more money. I also make bags from the straws, banana stems and palm leaves.
I am asking God to help us find market so that we can buy a machine to cut our own papers. That will be cheap for the whole group. The Salvation Army has helped us so much by sending people to train us in these skills. We can face the future now!
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