Bead party [beed pahr-tee] n., pl. -ties. 1. A festive gathering at which individuals create jewelry from beads, twine and other supplies. 2. A common phrase among those associated with The Amani Children’s Foundation. 3. A glorious way in which to unleash one’s creative energy upon unsuspecting ceramic objects (generally painted and glazed) such that said objects might transform into enchanting, wearable pieces of art that will in turn entice customers to exchange currency (to be sent to New Life Homes) for the right to own their magnificence.
Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending such an event. The humble conference table in Dey 207 had been laden with hundreds of colorful, handmade beads.
The other women and I sifted through them, anxiously searching for just the right combination of sizes and colors, tossing aside the rejects and seeking one another’s opinions. For three hours we collected and created. In the end, we had produced approximately 40 necklaces and bracelets for Carolina for Amani to sell.
The club is a new branch of The Amani Children’s Foundation, a 501c3 organization that supports New Life Homes in Kenya.
These homes take in infants orphaned by AIDS and poverty, then care for them until they are adopted. Club members meet weekly to bead and periodically host sales around campus. All of the money goes through the foundation to fund New Life Homes.
I survey the expanse of beads, running my hands over them like I’m searching for gold. Blues, greens, the occasional teal, and red. Red. Lots of red. The beads are beautiful. They are handmade by women at the Kazuri factory in Kenya, and their imperfections give them character.
There are beads shaped into balls, cubes, tear drops, eggs and round flat one’s I’d like to call pancakes. (I really like pancakes.) Some are solid. Others sport polka dots, swirls or stripes. It’s like being in a candy store at age 5.
And to think I’m helping to save a baby’s life. So. Cool.
If you would like to get involved, contact morganpabbott@gmail.com or attend a weekly Wednesday night beading session at 9 p.m. in room 207 of the Campus Y.
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