From Refugee Stone Breakers
to Business Women
Sister Refugees
In 1986, two sisters and their children were displaced from South Sudan as a result of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in a war which ravaged the country and created lasting instability. Through much struggle, the sisters arrived in northern Uganda and settled in a district called Kitgum. There, they met yet another rebel force—the Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony. In 1990, the war in northern Uganda lead them to a refugee camp in Kiryandongo in western Uganda.
Life in the refugee camp proved to be difficult for the sisters. Relief food was scarce, and they wondered how or if their children would be educated. The little medical care they received was by God’s grace. Their lives were lonely and difficult; however, they did not lose hope.
Focusing on God’s promises, they prayed for a brighter future. One of the sisters, named Abalo Sylvia, reached Kampala, Uganda in 1993 in an attempt to reunite with her husband, who had fled Sudan before her. Her sisters remained at the refugee camp in Kiryandongo. The following year, Sylvia’s sister Aciro Rose joined her and her husband in Kampala.
In 1986, two sisters and their children were displaced from South Sudan as a result of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in a war which ravaged the country and created lasting instability. Through much struggle, the sisters arrived in northern Uganda and settled in a district called Kitgum. There, they met yet another rebel force—the Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony. In 1990, the war in northern Uganda lead them to a refugee camp in Kiryandongo in western Uganda.
Life in the refugee camp proved to be difficult for the sisters. Relief food was scarce, and they wondered how or if their children would be educated. The little medical care they received was by God’s grace. Their lives were lonely and difficult; however, they did not lose hope.
Focusing on God’s promises, they prayed for a brighter future. One of the sisters, named Abalo Sylvia, reached Kampala, Uganda in 1993 in an attempt to reunite with her husband, who had fled Sudan before her. Her sisters remained at the refugee camp in Kiryandongo. The following year, Sylvia’s sister Aciro Rose joined her and her husband in Kampala.
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Sister Stonebreakers
By God’s grace, the two sisters reached safety in Kampala. Though no longer refugees, the reunited sisters struggled to provide for themselves in the city. All they could find for work was hard labor, breaking stones at quarries for construction work. Together, they toiled and received little pay. It took more than a week, every day from morning until evening, to break one ton of stones—for which they received less than 1.50 US dollars. The sisters had no choice but to settle for this painstaking, low-paying job. After a year of living in Kampala and surviving by manual labor, the sisters made friends in the community and were trained to make paper bead products as an alternative source of income. Sadly, they struggled to find honest vendors to purchase their products for a fair price; they were too often exploited by unethical buyers. Again, they struggled to live on the little income they made in the quarries and from selling beads. Their children joined the community school but often missed because the sisters struggled to pay school fees.
Biblical Fellowship and Hope
After years of what seemed like little hope, a woman named Margaret Ajju, a trained biblical counselor, met Sylvia in her neighborhood. The two began a Bible study for women in the community, and ten faithful women continue to meet regularly to study God’s Word eagerly as they embrace the richness of God’s promises. Though encouraged and engaged, the group soon faced a challenge that impacts many African Christians—a lack of Bibles. Only a couple of the women had Bibles—and those were very old and missing pages. But God was gracious. Margaret obtained five English Bibles and five Bibles in the local dialect, Luo, for the group. They continue to meet, growing in their knowledge of God’s Word, to this day.
By God’s grace, the two sisters reached safety in Kampala. Though no longer refugees, the reunited sisters struggled to provide for themselves in the city. All they could find for work was hard labor, breaking stones at quarries for construction work. Together, they toiled and received little pay. It took more than a week, every day from morning until evening, to break one ton of stones—for which they received less than 1.50 US dollars. The sisters had no choice but to settle for this painstaking, low-paying job. After a year of living in Kampala and surviving by manual labor, the sisters made friends in the community and were trained to make paper bead products as an alternative source of income. Sadly, they struggled to find honest vendors to purchase their products for a fair price; they were too often exploited by unethical buyers. Again, they struggled to live on the little income they made in the quarries and from selling beads. Their children joined the community school but often missed because the sisters struggled to pay school fees.
Biblical Fellowship and Hope
After years of what seemed like little hope, a woman named Margaret Ajju, a trained biblical counselor, met Sylvia in her neighborhood. The two began a Bible study for women in the community, and ten faithful women continue to meet regularly to study God’s Word eagerly as they embrace the richness of God’s promises. Though encouraged and engaged, the group soon faced a challenge that impacts many African Christians—a lack of Bibles. Only a couple of the women had Bibles—and those were very old and missing pages. But God was gracious. Margaret obtained five English Bibles and five Bibles in the local dialect, Luo, for the group. They continue to meet, growing in their knowledge of God’s Word, to this day.
Sister Businesswomen
As the Bible study continued, Sylvia and Rose showed Margaret their paper bead products. Margaret wished to help them and sold a few products to friends. Meanwhile, the sisters prayed for an opportunity to make a reliable income selling their handcrafts.
A year after the Bible study began, their prayers were answered: Margaret was introduced to Rafiki Missionary Patti Lafage. With the help of Margaret, Patti soon met the sisters and was impressed by their sample products. This was the opportunity Sylvia and Rose had been waiting for as they patiently prayed for years. They had come a long way from the refugee camp.
Now, the future looks bright for the budding businesswomen.
Since selling their products to Rafiki, the sisters’ lives have radically changed:
- They no longer have to break stones for a meager living.
- They can now afford more than one meal a day.
- With the extra funds they receive, they have set up small-scale businesses, selling food and charcoal.
- Their children are free to go to school, and they worry less over school fees.
- They can seek and pay for medical attention when needed.
- They can purchase better clothing and bedding for themselves and their children.
- They added Rafiki Bible Study lessons to their group study and rejoice in all they are learning about
their Heavenly Father and His gracious provision.
These are the women Rafiki partners with, and this is the impact each and every purchase you make has! Rafiki is blessed to know these women, and we praise the Lord that He has brought them into our lives. Rose and Sylvia's products are below.
As the Bible study continued, Sylvia and Rose showed Margaret their paper bead products. Margaret wished to help them and sold a few products to friends. Meanwhile, the sisters prayed for an opportunity to make a reliable income selling their handcrafts.
A year after the Bible study began, their prayers were answered: Margaret was introduced to Rafiki Missionary Patti Lafage. With the help of Margaret, Patti soon met the sisters and was impressed by their sample products. This was the opportunity Sylvia and Rose had been waiting for as they patiently prayed for years. They had come a long way from the refugee camp.
Now, the future looks bright for the budding businesswomen.
Since selling their products to Rafiki, the sisters’ lives have radically changed:
- They no longer have to break stones for a meager living.
- They can now afford more than one meal a day.
- With the extra funds they receive, they have set up small-scale businesses, selling food and charcoal.
- Their children are free to go to school, and they worry less over school fees.
- They can seek and pay for medical attention when needed.
- They can purchase better clothing and bedding for themselves and their children.
- They added Rafiki Bible Study lessons to their group study and rejoice in all they are learning about
their Heavenly Father and His gracious provision.
These are the women Rafiki partners with, and this is the impact each and every purchase you make has! Rafiki is blessed to know these women, and we praise the Lord that He has brought them into our lives. Rose and Sylvia's products are below.
The Kampala
$35.00
Dress for success in this statement piece. The Kampala is a versatile product! Some wear it as a necklace, or belt, while others use it as a scarf! You can't go wrong with this piece.
Some of the Kampalas will come with a note attached from the widow who made it!
Be on the lookout when you unbox it.
Uganda Paper Wrapped Bowl
$16.00
Created with strips of paper in Uganda are these colorful Ugandan Paper Wrapped Bowls. What better way to reuse paper than to turn into a useful container for knick knacks?
Due to the way these bowls are made, please do not store food or consumables inside.
Each bowl is unique and different do to the fact that they are made out of paper. The pictures shown show the general theme of the colors of bowls. We tried to group them as close to the pictures as we could, but each bowl varies from the other.
Due to the way these bowls are made, please do not store food or consumables inside.
Each bowl is unique and different do to the fact that they are made out of paper. The pictures shown show the general theme of the colors of bowls. We tried to group them as close to the pictures as we could, but each bowl varies from the other.
Cascadia Necklace
$30.00
Strips of paper carefully rolled up, dyed, dried, and then strung to create the beautiful Cascadia Necklace.
Patti, our Widows Program Coordinator in Uganda, tells us that in order to get the bright pigmented color onto the paper beads, that the widows must dip the beads into the dye of their choice and let it dry seven individual times. The women string up clothing lines all around their villages and hang the paper beads to dry.
What a detailed process for these incredible necklaces!
The last time we got these in, they sold out in two days! Hurry and get one while they are here.
Patti, our Widows Program Coordinator in Uganda, tells us that in order to get the bright pigmented color onto the paper beads, that the widows must dip the beads into the dye of their choice and let it dry seven individual times. The women string up clothing lines all around their villages and hang the paper beads to dry.
What a detailed process for these incredible necklaces!
The last time we got these in, they sold out in two days! Hurry and get one while they are here.