ATTRACTIVE RE-CYCLED PAPER BEADS

The District Governor's Blog received the following attachment on re-cycled paper beads from Fiona Batwala of Lions Club of Kampala Host, Uganda. The attractive multi-colour beads were on display at the Lions Clubs International Convention at Hamburg, Germany. The exhibition kiosk attracted a good number of visitors including District Governor Lion Wilson Ndesanjo and First Lady Florense.
We wish to reproduce the write-up and some pictures.

The exhibition of re-cycled paper beads

 

 

From L-R: Mrs. Rebecca Banoba, DG.Wilson N. Ndesanjo (MJF) District 411B 2013 -2014 Tanzania – Uganda, Lion Mrs. Ndesanjo and Lion Dr.Ignatius James Batwala (Kampala Host Lions Club) at the Bead for Life stall sponsored by Kampala Host Lions Club in Hamburg, Germany 5^th to 9^th July 2013

 

Uganda like the Phoenix is rising to shine out once again as the "Pearl of Africa". For four decades it has been ravished by poverty, war, famine and AIDS. Her women have been the greatest victims of these calamities and the most beautiful of the Phoenix. 

Lions Club Kampala Host, consciously selected and sponsored Bead for Life at the Lions Club International Convention. It was observed that despite the large number of noble Lions projects in Africa none have been displayed at International Conventions. Therefore, Lions Club Kampala Host gave a helping hand to Beads for Life. It sponsored a stall at the Lions Club International Convention 2013, Hamburg. This was to enable Beads for Life exhibit its work in Uganda for more publicity. There are a large number of equally noble Lions assisted projects in Uganda, however Bead for Life was selected because it was already registered in Europe, unlike so many other NGO's. 

Bead for Life is a Ugandan NGO registered in Uganda, North America and Europe. It is also a Fair Trade registered member. The registration enables Bead for Life to trade in these areas tax exempt. Consequently, the funds raised by sales of beads are repatriated back to the women members. The women receive Fair Trade prices for the beads. They are paid as soon as their beads are accepted by Bead for Life and do not have to await sales to receive their money. The NGO helps women manage their finances. The funds are used by the women to pay for school fees for their children, buy good nutritious meals, pay for medical care, pay for better accommodation and establish other businesses. Beads for Life enables the women manage their funds to achieve their dreams. 

Its members are Ugandan women who have suffered from the atrocities of war and AIDs and are now working hard to become self-sustaining entrepreneurs. They do not want handouts, they want to be independent and work for a better life for themselves and their families. Read more on their website: www.beadforlife.org . 

The stall attracted a large number of visitors from the convention attendees. They were amazed at the beautiful jewelry and the fact that they were made from recycled paper. A large number of beads were sold and to date more enquires by Lions worldwide are being made.

" Even without the story they are beautiful." A visitor at the stall at the Convention in Hamburg.

At the stall, visitors were able to inquire more about Lions Club Kampala work with NGOs like Beads for Life. A number of magazines and flyers were distributed, show casing the Clubs activities in Kampala and in other regions. 

Beads for Life and Lions Club Kampala Host hope for future collaboration with the Lions Club International. Namely, a commissioning to produce Lions Club International branded merchandise for the shop and for conventions, in particular for the Lions International centenary celebrations. 

In retrospective, it is no surprise that few African Lions Clubs exhibit at International Conventions. For the Hamburg convention the Germans lived up to their famous "bureaucratic administration". In order for one to exhibit one ought to be registered in their country of origin, they should send their registration documents to Germany, they should also register in Germany for the show and acquire a tax number. Meanwhile the stall operators must pay for the stall 6 months in advance and acquire visas. The visa requirement for Ugandans like many other African countries is long and tedious. It requires letters of invitation from the host, hotel and flight reservations, bank statements, medical and travel insurance, etc. It is our appeal that the Lions Club International to work with African Lions Clubs that wish to exhibit to get through the host nations 'Tax rigours". Otherwise, the International conventions will continue portraying an image that the African Countries Lions Clubs are inactive. Yet like the Phoenix, Lions Club Kampala Host is up and flying. Rising itself and assisting others to rise from the ashes of wars and other calamities. 

We Serve, Lions Club Kampala Host.
What we would recommend is sponsorship for future stalls at international and local exhibitions, where possible especially in Europe, Asia and North America.

By: Ln Fiona Batwala and Mrs. Rebecca Banoba