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Our full magazine bead collection is now up on the website!  We encourage you to check out these fun bracelets and necklaces made in Uganda from 100% recycled paper.  They are fun and eco-chic.

Uganda has been plagued for over twenty years by internal war between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army. The war has caused untold numbers of abductions, torture, rape and deaths throughout the northern regions of the country. Many of the women that partner with 31bits were directly affected by the war.  They, or family members, have been abducted from their villages and many suffer from HIV/AIDS due to these atrocities.

Over one-million of the Acholi people have been displaced, many forcibly entered into refugee camps. The camps provide little refuge due to poor security and lack of healthcare, proper sanitation, and jobs. The endemic poverty is hardest on the children who often go hungry and have little opportunity to grow out of their current situation.

However, in the midst of this suffering, there are women who are finding creative ways to provide for themselves and their families through the art of jewelry making. The hand-made jewelry is very difficult to sell in the region due to market availability for such items. Despite the fear of ongoing war and the struggle to provide basic necessities, the women have an immense hope for change.

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