ChildVoiceIntl.org

ChildVoice Bead Director: Hardship, Sacrifice, Determination

Amanda Bryon — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:50:27 +0000

Sharyn Bartlett, Bead Director, right

Since returning from Uganda I often reflect on my time there and the amazing people I met.

It’s the rainy season there now. The rain there is like nothing I have ever experienced! Yet, whether riding a bicycle 1.5 hours to the Bead House and then 1.5 hours home again after making the beads all day, the beaders still come. They still love to sit and share with each other and work to make the beautiful re-cycled beads we all enjoy to buy as gifts and wear.

Hardship and sacrifice are current companions to these brave and “independent women” of Uganda. Supporting them and their families by selling and purchasing their individually designed and hand crafted jewelry is a privilege I personally hold dear.

Now that Mother’s Day is at hand let’s remember these amazing women who have worked so hard to support their families. Their employment at ChildVoice Beads allows them to earn a fair wage, achieve independence, send their children to school, and build for their future.

Shop their beautiful beaded creations today!

Mother-Daughter Duo Teams Up to Serve with ChildVoice

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:28 +0000

Dianne Joens & daughter Darla

Dianne Joens of Riceville, Iowa, was thrilled when her daughter, Darla, asked if she would join her on a mission trip. “My response was immediate,” she recalls. “I said ‘Yes, when and where?’ I didn’t imagine it would be the other side of the world!”

When Darla revealed that the trip was to northern Uganda, Dianne was caught off guard. “The whole idea was out of my comfort zone. But time and again we received confirmation that we were supposed to go.”

It wasn’t long after her invitation that Darla remembers receiving an email from her mom that read: “I have my days off at work for the mission trip to Uganda. Do you?” Darla smiles, describing that moment when she realized her mother was definitely joining her. In November 2011, Dianne and Darla experienced Africa together, serving ChildVoice with a team from Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa.

A Young Mother Reaches Out to Others

Having become a single mother at the age of 17, Darla was drawn to the ChildVoice mission of helping young mothers create a secure future for themselves and their children.

“I became a statistic that I never thought I would be,” she describes. “It has not been an easy road and I lived most of the past 18 years day-to-day just trying to make a living for my daughter.”

Reflecting on her experience with the young mothers in northern Uganda, Darla adds, “Even though we are from different cultures, I believe we are more alike than different. We all have the same desires for our children—that they are safe, clothed, fed, happy and loved.”

Darla shared her story with the young mothers in the ChildVoice program during the mission trip. Their eyes were wide as she described her experience of raising a child on her own, the challenges she encountered, and the hope she had every step of the way. An instant bond was formed as the girls connected with Darla as someone who had walked a similar road.

“I couldn’t have been more proud of Darla the morning she gave her testimony,” Dianne says. “We had talked about how it would help other young girls and taking that step was a huge breakthrough for her.”

Counting Blessings on Mother’s Day

“I am so happy that Darla and I, as mother and daughter, were blessed with this special opportunity,” Dianne says. “We have settled back in to the routines of our lives, but we will never be the same. The girls and staff at ChildVoice will always be in our minds and hearts.”

The experience Darla had with her mother in Uganda has her dreaming of one day taking a mission trip with her daughter. “As for my own mother, sharing this experience with her has deepened my love for her in ways I can’t explain,” she says.

“We were both moved beyond words by the people of northern Uganda and the work ChildVoice is doing to bring them hope. I am grateful that I experienced it with my mom.”

Happy Mother’s Day to moms around the world! Learn more about how you can participate and serve on a team trip to Uganda.

Meet the Beaders: Jenifer

Amanda Bryon — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:35 +0000

Jenifer

The youngest member of the Bead Project family, Jennifer, started working in 2010. Deeply affected by the war in Northern Uganda, Jennifer could not depend on her remaining family for help, so she had to find a way to support herself. She said, “I used to have nothing. I would always ask others for food or money each day, but now I don’t have to.” As many young women her age, Jennifer enjoys dancing and dressing up and recalls many good memories at ChildVoice that all involve dancing the traditional Acholi dance, Raka Raka, and drumming. Jennifer, affectionately called “Atuc” is the Bead Project’s fastest bead roller.

To shop bead made by Jennifer, and the other women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.

ChildVoice Salutes Our Iowa Bead Ladies

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:39:08 +0000

Kate Davey and Gretchen Sandfort

ChildVoice Beads have taken off in Iowa, thanks in large part to three women who are dedicated to sharing not only the beads, but also the ChildVoice mission.

In 2009, Kate Davey was the first of the trio to hear about ChildVoice and its bead project at a presentation given by ChildVoice board member, Dr. Neil Mandsager. “His slide show and direct contact with the women and children at the Lukome Centre not only pulled at my heart strings, but spurred me to action,” Kate recalls.

At that time, the bead project was in its infancy and Kate contributed through donations. A swimming instructor, Kate asked her students to give directly to ChildVoice in lieu of paying her for lessons. As the ChildVoice Beads project grew, Kate supported awareness and sales efforts throughout central Iowa and momentum began to grow.

Enter Gretchen

Kate’s love of ChildVoice was contagious and it wasn’t long before Gretchen Sandfort, another of our Iowa bead lady trio, learned of ChildVoice. “My dear friend, Kate, introduced me to ChildVoice and I loved the mission,” Gretchen says. “I hosted a bead party in my home and the response was terrific. I watched other women embrace what ChildVoice stands for and the beauty of the beads.”

Since that time, Gretchen has been the cog in the home party wheel in central Iowa. She has created a simple process for hosting bead parties that includes electronic invitations, a beautiful assortment of beaded jewelry, easy-to-use display supplies, and informational materials about ChildVoice. Gretchen says, “The beauty of the beads and the reasonable prices make the jewelry very appealing.”

“Women have told me the parties offer a unique experience as they learn about ChildVoice and the women and families the organization supports.”

Enter Kris

Kris Steinkritz

Kris Steinkritz discovered ChildVoice Beads as she was preparing to join a ChildVoice mission team to northern Uganda. At an informational meeting, she spotted an acquaintance of hers, Kate Davey.

“I learned that Kate was volunteering locally for ChildVoice and I immediately asked how I could get involved,” Kris shares. It wasn’t long before Kris was helping at bead sales events and, currently, she manages the local ChildVoice Beads inventory out of her home.

ChildVoice salutes these three women who have taken our cause to heart and impacted women and children in northern Uganda by managing, promoting and selling ChildVoice beads in central Iowa. In the past three years, many ChildVoice Beads have been sold in the area, in large part due to their time, energy and passion. Thanks Kate, Gretchen and Kris!

You can shop online for ChildVoice beads or contact Amanda Bryon if you’d like to host your own bead party!

Meet the Beaders: Betty

Amanda Bryon — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:52 +0000

Betty

At age 37, Betty is an experienced mother with eight children. She has no one to help her with the children financially, but she is very proud to say that since working at ChildVoice, she is able to buy uniforms and books and send all eight of her children to school…a large accomplishment in itself. Betty’s favorite thing to do with the Bead Project is the bead rolling itself. She is also grateful that people continue to buy her jewelry since it has helped her to make these opportunities in her life and her children’s lives possible.

To shop bead made by Betty, and the other women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.

Meet the Beaders: Janet

Amanda Bryon — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:00:44 +0000

Janet

When Janet came to interview for a job with the Bead Project, she felt she had found a place where she belonged. She knew that ChildVoice assisted child mothers and since she too was a young mother, she felt it was the right place for her. With two small children and a 9-year-old sister to care for, Janet is now proud to be able to contribute to the family. She also knew that the organization was involved in the community. “Many people had to walk very far to collect water, but since ChildVoice dug a borehole we can save a lot of time and spend our time doing better things that will help us make money.”

To shop bead made by Janet, and the other women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.

Waukee High School winning fundraisers

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:05:48 +0000

Waukee High School winning fundraisers

Thanks Again Waukee High School!

There is no stopping the students at Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa! Last month, students at the school raised $4,977 for ChildVoice International in only five days—just in time for the funds to be doubled through the matching gift offered in March.

Led by the student organization, Voices 4 Hope, a school-wide fund-drive competition was waged between all 3rd period classes. The 3rd period class that raised the most money during that school week received a catered lunch courtesy of Biaggi’s Italian Restaurant and an ice cream dessert bar courtesy of local ChildVoice volunteers.

The two top fund-raising classes raised nearly the same amount each. As a result, both classes were included in the catered lunch and dessert prize. These two classes (pictured) raised about a fourth of the school-wide total.

Since 2009, the Waukee High School student body of approximately 1,100 students has contributed upwards of $10,000 to ChildVoice through sales of ChildVoice Beads and other fundraisers. Thank you, Waukee High School, for caring about people your own age from other parts of the world and for helping ChildVoice impact their lives for the better!

Meet the Beaders: Stella

Amanda Bryon — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:31:10 +0000

Stella

Stella is a young but busy mother of four children. Before ChildVoice she could not find any work, and the father of her children could not give support money. She expressed her gratitude for working at the Bead Project and uses her earnings to pay for school fees, hospital visits, and for her planting in her field. “Even though life has been tough, I have been blessed to find good work that allows me to help my family.”

To shop bead made by Stella, and the other women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.

Meet the Beaders: Beatrice

Amanda Bryon — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:49:46 +0000

Beatrice

Before 35-year-old Beatrice came to ChildVoice in 2009, she was farming all day from morning until night to make less than one dollar a day. With four small children to support, Beatrice was losing hope for the future. She saw no way out of her desperate situation.

Since she came to ChildVoice though, she is happy to be able to make a steady salary and save her money for her children’s futures. Currently, she is able to send all of them to school, something she never imagined being able to do before.

She takes pride in her work now, saying, “I am especially good at varnishing the beads!” ChildVoice is thrilled to have Beatrice as part of the family.

To shop bead made by Beatrice, and the other women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.

ChildVoice Graduate, Independent Woman

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:18:02 +0000

Concy and others producing bead jewelry for CVI

“I gained hope to be an independent woman and help other young mothers,” says Concy.

A 2009 graduate of the Lukome Centre in northern Uganda, Concy returned to her home village, confident in her ability to provide for herself and her family.

Having been trained in baking throughout her time at the centre, she started a bread-making business in her community.

“It was not hard because of the skills I had learned here at ChildVoice.”

Because of the volatile economy, the skyrocketing prices of sugar, flour and other inputs got to the place where she could not make a profit. Finally, she began to seek alternative employment.

“I saw signs posted on the trees in front of ChildVoice. They needed bead women, so I came to apply.”

Nine months later, Concy is thriving amongst the forty-two women employed with ChildVoice Beads. She is now able to pay school fees for several members of her family, and provide for her children, Moses and Ronald.

Concy concluded, “I now have hope and am encouraged in my life.”

To purchase products made by Concy and the women of ChildVoice Beads, visit our webstore.