Baby Marie--September 2011

I’m very excited to kick off my new blog by offering my very first giveaway! In this first contest I will be giving away 2 sets of beautiful handcrafted beaded necklaces from Africa. I have in my possession, dozens of these necklaces which were brought over directly from Jinja, Uganda.

Each necklace is made from tiny bits of recycled paper, wound very tightly, and glazed to resemble a bead. By nature of the technique, each necklace is completely unique. Some of the necklaces are multicolored, and others have beads of all one color. I have worn these beads to work on many occasions, and have received many compliments on their uniqueness, and their pretty colors. You can wear them with either casual or dressy outfits, they are really versatile.

While the beads themselves are inherently interesting, the story behind them is even more intriguing. All the proceeds from the sale of these beads go directly to Sonrise Baby Home in Jinja. Sonrise is a home which cares for Ugandan babies who have been either orphaned or abandoned. It is a sad statistic that nearly 2.3 million children in Uganda are orphaned. Many other children are born to parents who are either ill or impoverished. Sonrise takes in these vulnerable children, and gives them a loving, stable and safe environment in which they can grow and learn.

My workplace decided to sponsor one of the children at Sonrise named Marie. When Marie arrived at Sonrise in April 2011, she was severely emaciated, and near death. Her mother had died in childbirth, and her father was unknown. At the time she arrived at Sonrise, she didn’t even have a name. In a matter of months, Marie gained weight and became a happy, healthy toddler. It is incredible how much she has thrived while in this home. It makes me and my co-workers so proud to see how our contribution has improved the life of this precious little girl.

If you are interested in learning more about the work of Sonrise, or you are interested in buying necklaces of your own, visit their website for more details. The money raised from the sale of the necklaces goes directly to the babies’ needs–formula, food, medicine, toys, books, and clothing.

Two lucky winners will receive a beautiful necklace made in Jinja, Uganda. Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway