In the aftermath of the late ’90s and early 2000s wars in Northern Uganda, resilient women sought refuge in the slums of Kampala, escaping the shadows of conflict. Faced with the harsh reality of uncharted urban life, they found themselves trapped in risky endeavors, like stone quarry work, as they lacked education and relied solely on subsistence farming from their homeland.

Their fortunes shifted when non-profit organizations intervened, offering a lifeline through bead making—a skill aimed at liberating them from the perils of quarry labor. The transformative impact of beadwork was profound, providing not just an income but a source of pride and purpose.

During the early 2000s, the lives of many women, pulled from the treacherous quarry, saw a remarkable improvement thanks to the booming market for bead products.

But sadly, this prosperity didn’t last. Selfish businessmen took advantage of their lack of education, offering unfair prices for their painstakingly crafted goods.

And towards the late 2000s, as more people entered the industry without proper training, the market became flooded with poor-quality beads, further damaging the market that was already crumbling. That is when the livelihood of the women and their family started going downhill.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering the final blow that shuttered the market completely. Overnight, these resilient women found themselves unable to sell their beads, even at desperate prices.

Left with no options, they turned to menial tasks like roadside food vending, selling fruits or returning to the quarry, where they earn less than a dollar a day. This made even two meals a day a distant reality, quality education impossible and the prospect of providing for basic necessities became a very hard endeavor. This has left them grappling with the harsh realities of poverty.