The Business of Beads

Asmita had no income when she was introduced to Hope for the Future. She had heard about their bead jewelry training and was delighted at the invitation to join. But she admitted to being a bit skeptical. “At first I didn’t think the training would be very helpful. Would I really be able to make anything beautiful enough to sell and make money?”

Asmita’s hesitance soon changed to enthusiasm as she gained both skills and confidence. She discovered she had artistic talent and thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with different styles of earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

In addition to learning creative design and jewelry-making techniques, Asmita and her fellow trainees gained insights into sales and marketing. In Nepal, beads are inexpensive and readily available, so jewelers can start producing with minimal investment and overhead. They can work from their own homes, or ask tailors, clothes sellers or other small businesses in the marketplace to include their jewelry in the window. As for demand, since bead ornaments are affordable for common people they are extremely popular.

In Asmita’s words, “This training was so good and so practical. By the end I became a bead ornament designer! Now I am famous in my community for my bead business. And all credit goes to Hope for the Future and its supporters.”

After her local success, Asmita sent some of her designs and samples abroad, in hopes of expanding her market outside Nepal as well. “Please pray for me and my dream,” she asks.

Hope for the Future has received small grants from DDHCFN for their Capacity Building Project for low income women. Since it started offering bead jewelry training, over 300 trainees have learned this new and practical skill. Many have become successful in their small business endeavors, and some have become trainers, passing on their skills to others. They struggled during the pandemic but are encouraged that business is slowly picking up.

Sabina, A student-turned-teacher at “Our Study Place”

Sabina completed Class 10 in her village, and wasn’t sure what to do next. Her sister had gone to the city for tailoring training, but Sabina wasn’t keen to follow her. Instead she chose to study education at the vocational school in her district.

As she studied and reflected on her own educational experience, Sabina was aware of the difficulties faced by children whose parents are uneducated. They get behind in their schoolwork and have nowhere to turn for help. She decided to take time between her own classes to tutor the neediest ones in her village.

Once she completed her courses, Sabina arranged parents’ meetings to explain the benefit of starting an after school program like “Our Study Place” which DDHCFN partner Console Mission had started in other villages. They were supportive, and so a new “Our Study Place” opened as a result.

Sabina currently runs the program with the help of a friend and with support from Console Mission where she gets supplies and a stipend for rent.