The Women at Work

Many thanks to the Javie Ssozi, Liliana Teves, and Stephanie Nitschke of the Women of Uganda Network for the beautiful video.

Saying "I Do" with Women of Kireka

Jennifer modeling one of the wedding headbands.

Hello blogosphere! It's been a while.  I blame my weeks-long absence on being too busy at the office and having too much fun in Kampala. While I've been away Women of Kireka have been busy: we hosted several groups of visitors at the office, participated in an event for women entrepreneurs organized by the Women of Uganda Network, ventured down to Kikubo Road to get the necessary materials to begin our metal training sessions with Peter Corry, continued work on an order of loose beads for a jeweler in Montreal, and got our feet wet in the wedding industry. My good friend here in Kampala was kind enough to suggest Women of Kireka to her bride-to-be sister, who was looking for something beautiful and unique to add to her wedding attire. Women of Kireka created custom sets of jewelry (necklace, bracelet, earrings, and headband) for the bride, maid of honor, and mother of the bride, in deep purple, pure white, and periwinkle blue respectively. The pieces were a smashing success with both the wedding party and the women, whose first foray into the lucrative world of weddings went off without a hitch.

Designs in Pocket

Santa examining some new materials from Kikuubo Road.

One of my many goals this summer is to help the Women of Kireka diversify their product line to include wood and metal. With designs in pocket thanks to the help of a WoK supporter in Montreal, all that's left is to 1) choose and acquire materials, 2) find someone to instruct the women on how to work with these materials, and 3) to assemble the prototypes. Right.

Task number 2 got infinitely easier this week due to the help of Peter Corry, a talented Kampala-based graphic designer and jeweler. Having worked with a number of different materials throughout his career and with experience instructing fine arts at Makerere University, Peter will be an incredible resource for WoK as we seek to incorporate new materials and eventually launch a new line of jewelry.

Alice with the new designs.

Helen taking a look.

Stone Cold

Helen, Jennifer, and Grace at Alliance Francaise for the premiere of Stone Cold.

Last week the Women of Kireka went Hollywood! Well, sort of. At the kind invitation of Irene Kulabako - film director, health communications specialist, and all around lovely woman - WoK was invited to attend the premier of Stone Cold, a new film by TriVision Uganda.

Shot here in Kampala and in parts of North Eastern Uganda, Stone Cold tells the tale of Kosai, a poor man from the countryside who earns his living crushing stones. Desperate to make ends meet, Kosai takes his four children out of school and forces them to work alongside him in the quarry. The film not only sheds light on the dangers of child labor, but on the specific risks involved with quarry labor.

For Helen, Jennifer, and Grace who accompanied me to the premier, the film resonated with their personal experiences. Fleeing the decades long conflict in Northern Uganda, the women moved south in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Upon arriving in Kireka the only work they could find was at the quarry. When asked if the film was an accurate portrayal of the backbreaking and tireless work they have done for years Jennifer said simply, “That’s the real quarry movie.”

While the film was an amazing opportunity to explore issues close to home, the business minded Women of Kireka took full advantage of the unique opportunity to sell many pieces and get the word out about our jewelry. This eye towards the future was also apparent on Sunday when I had the chance to sit down with Helen, Jennifer, and Grace, and ask them about the experience.

Q. What were your thoughts after watching the movie?

Grace. It is very bad indeed. The (movie) pained me, but I don’t have any effort to do another thing. I don’t have a garden. I don’t have any capital to do another business, so that is my work.

Jennifer. I feel like changing. I think about changing my life to another work, but I’m forced to go back because I have nothing (else) to do.

Q. What is your reaction to how the children were forced to work alongside their father in the movie?

Helen. It is really very bad but because of the situation we are forced to do that.

Grace. The way the father acted is what happens in our working place. Even me I am like that man, I force the children to work. Because... I don’t have fees and I don’t have food. (The children) don’t want to go but you are supposed to force them to go. We say “This is your life, if you don’t want to work, you don’t get food, you don’t get fees, so you have to work.” I just request you to get (more of a) market for us so we can stop working that way, because it is very dangerous.

To find out more about what life is like working in a stone quarry, read a review of the film or watch the trailer.

Jennifer getting some beads ready for sale.

Our finished display.

Beads... and Bowls!?!

Last week while attending the LaBa Street Art Festival I purchased a beautiful green bowl made of recycled paper to show the women. On Monday in Kireka I unveiled my find to the group. While they seemed intrigued by the possibility of a new product (and upon seeing it immediately started a dynamic conversation about how the bowl was crafted), we were busy filling a bulk bead order (as well as making sure Baby Cody didn't swallow any beads), and I figured we'd have a more in depth conversation about a new item later in the summer.

Yum.

While back in Kireka on Wednesday, however, Elder surprised me with a beautiful set of paper bowls that she'd created. While already of great quality, with a few finishing touches to the bowls, Elder and Women of Kireka may have a new product that will allow them to break into the world of eco-friendly home goods.

Elder's Bowls.

And Again.

Muzungu! How is Obama?

Of my many adventures last week was a quest to find a weighing scale (Women of Kireka had an order of loose beads to fill). Leaving my home in Nakulabye I was content to head towards the city center stopping every few feet to inquire “weighing scale?” until I found one or had walked the entirety of Kampala, whichever came first. A run-in with the lovely proprietor of a home goods store in my neighborhood proved quite fortuitous, however, as she not only told me the name and address of a store where I could find a scale, but also found me a taxi driver who knew the spot. With me in tow the driver navigated the labyrinthine streets of Old Kampala. As we made our way my usual greeting (“Muzungu! How are you?”) evolved into “Muzungu! Where are you from?” My response generated a chorus of “Muzungu! How is Obama?” putting a giant grin on my face. Unsure of how to answer (“Well, catching Bin Laden gave his poll numbers a boost but the unemployment rate is still high and our participation in the NATO mission in Libya is controversial...”) I just said “He’s good.” My next stop on the Obama train will be a busy spot in Kampala called Wandegeya, where I hear I can get an Obama chapati.

The order of loose beads, packaged and ready to go.

I Finally Meet the Artisans of Kireka

After months of anticipation, I finally made it to Kireka yesterday. Needless to say, it was wonderful to be in the same room as the women I'd heard so much about. I arrived at the office in the afternoon and spent several hours getting acquainted with the women as well as "oohing" and "ahing" over all of their wares. Jennifer showed me each style of necklace and answered my plethora of questions about how strips of paper are transformed into such lovely beads. Grace was kind enough to give me a tour of the quarry where many of the women work, which is just down the road from the office. I also had the pleasure of meeting the newest member of WoK, baby Samuel, as well as the adorable babies Cody and Teddy. I'm back in Kireka at Monday at 1pm, at which time the women and I will start collaborating in earnest.

The Women of Kireka and I in the office.

Some of the necklaces in the office - the work of true craftswomen.

Looking down into Kireka Quarry, where many of the women work crushing stones.

The road leading from the quarry to the office.

Santa and her baby Samuel, just several weeks old and a champion sleeper.