Towards a better future: Slum dwellers’ handiwork shines brighter than gold

Bead art illustrates work of around two dozen women.

ISLAMABAD:

At first glance, they appear to be chunky pieces from an antique collection hung loosely around the jewellery stand of an elaborate handicraft shop. However, a closer look reveals the essence of the necklaces that are in fact made of plain glass beads and safety pins.

The bronze, silver and gold hues of the metallic pins contrast with the subtle glow of the multi-coloured beads to form intricate patterns that give off a glorious tint. As opposed to precious gems that typically adorn the glass windows of jewellery shops, these mundane objects have been strung together for a noble cause.

The bead art illustrates the skilled handiwork of about 25 to 30 women from slum areas of the capital and residents of Saidpur village. These women strive to earn a living and enable a brighter future for themselves and their families.

“In order to keep underprivileged kids off the street and to keep their income stream running, we decided to economically empower their mothers,” Lettuce Bee Kids Chief Executive Officer Sarah Adeel said while speaking to The Express Tribune. According to Adeel, the safety necklaces are part of wider experiments that have worked out perfectly. She recalled that at a recent exhibition in a private hotel, the items were among the best-selling crafts.

Adeel found that necklaces were a simple way to involve women in the creative venture. She says the tasks involved are quite straightforward: After the pieces are completed, Adeel picks them up from the craftswomen to drop them to a shop in Rawalpindi where they are fixed, inserted with golden strings and given final touches before being displayed in the capital.

With a price range between Rs1,500 to Rs3,000, the handmade necklaces have garnered a fond appreciation among women of various age groups and from different strata of society. The proceeds from the purchases subsequently go to the children and their mothers. The necklaces, that form a part of a design studio showcasing artwork by the children, are also available at a crafts stall at the weekly Farmer’s Night Market at Kuch Khaas every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.

Lettuce Bee Kids is a self-sustaining social enterprise whose mission is to reintegrate street children back into society as responsible contributors to the community concentrating on arts and crafts, music and an eco-friendly work ethic. The items can be ordered online by sending an email to [e-mail].

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2014.