3 1 b i t s :th e s to ry
USING FASHION AND DESIGN TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY. ( 5 ) H O W I T A L L S TA R T E D ( 6 ) W H Y U G A N D A? ( 9 ) O U R M O D E L O F B U S I N E S S ( 1 0 ) T H E I M P A C T O F Y O U R P U R C H A S E ( 1 4 ) H O L I S T I C D E V E LO P M E N T (19) OUR PRODUCTS & THE NAME 31 BITS
JESSIE, KALLIE, ANNA, BROOKE & ALLI
How it all started K a l l i e D o v e l t r a v e l e d t o U g a n d a i n t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 0 7, g e t t i n g a f i r s t hand look at life in Northern Uganda. While she was there, she met women m a k i n g i n c r e d i b l e j e w e l r y f r o m r e c y c l e d p a p e r.
After spending time with the
women and hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a way to give opportunities to her new friends. She brought a box of jewelry back to the U.S., and spent the next year finishing her degree and dreaming about the possibilities of a development organization. She brought a few friends on board and her ideas quickly evolved into 31 Bits. The girls traveled back to Uganda i n A u g u s t 2 0 0 8 , a n d s e l e c t e d s i x w o m e n t o b e g i n b u y i n g j e w e l r y f r o m m o n t h l y. Kallie stayed in Uganda, while the rest of the girls headed back to the U.S. and began sharing stories and developing the business.
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Why Uganda Nearly two million people in Northern Uganda have been displaced from their homes as a result of the ongoing, catastrophic war traveling throughout East Africa.
Throughout the last twenty-five years, they have undergone social
deprivation, experienced the bloodshed of family members, suffered from personal injury and illness, and witnessed the destruction of their homes, communities, and livelihoods.
Many of these vulnerable people groups have relocated to the District
o f G u l u , s e e k i n g a i d a n d o p p o r t u n i t y.
There are some who have found ways to
s u s t a i n t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s ; h o w e v e r, t h o u s a n d s o f o t h e r s r e m a i n w i t h few chances for employment and education.
Gulu is filled with astounding high
spirits and energy; but the lack of opportunity has diminished many people’s hope f o r p r o s p e r i t y.
A s t h e i r d e p r i v a t i o n o f s u s t e n a n c e , o p p o r t u n i t y, a n d o p t i m i s m
continues, there is a growing need for effective actions to take place that will c o u n t e r p o v e r t y, o f f e r h o p e , a n d e s t a b l i s h s u s t a i n a b i l i t y.
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our model of business We a r e a s o c i a l l y m i n d e d b u s i n e s s u s i n g fa s h i o n a n d d e s i g n t o e m p owe r wo m e n t o r i s e a b ove p o v e r t y. W e b e l i e v e b u s i n e s s i s o n e o f t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l a n d s u s t a i n a b l e a p p r o a c h e s t o a l l e v i a t i n g p o v e r t y.
O u r b u s i n e s s a p p r o a c h i s c e n t e r e d o n t w o m a i n c o m p o n e n t s : t h e c o n s u m e r a n d t h e c r e a t o r.
A s u c c e s s f u l  b u s i n e s s  s t a r t s w i t h a g r e a t p r o d u c t .  We b e l i e v e i n p r o v i d i n g a p r o d u c t t h a t i d e n t i f i e s with our market, consisting of high quality materials, detailed construction, and fashion-forward design.
Our jewelry is constantly being refined and evolving with current trends, giving customers
the opportunity to continue supporting our women in Uganda. We p u r c h a s e j e w e l r y f r o m e a c h o f o u r w o m e n i n U g a n d a o n a m o n t h l y b a s i s , p r o v i d i n g t h e m w i t h a n immediate, consistent, and fair income. By selling these products in the international market, we are able to generate revenue allowing us to fund both the US operations as well as the development programming in Uganda.
This revenue is used to continue purchasing jewelry from our beneficiaries,
as well as provide them with holistic development programs, equipping them to develop individual c a r e e r s a n d a t t a i n s o c i a l e q u i t y.
We a r e c o m m i t t e d t o w o r k i n g w i t h e a c h w o m a n u n t i l s h e h a s
g r a d u a t e d f r o m o u r p r o g r a m a n d a t t a i n e d a s u s t a i n a b l e m e a n s o f i n c o m e w i t h i n h e r o w n c o m m u n i t y. 3 1 B i t s i s a b u s i n e s s a l l o w i n g y o u t o C R E AT E C H A N G E t h r o u g h y o u r p u r c h a s e s .
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THE IMPACT OF YOUR PURCHASE Y O U R P U R C H A S E S U P P O R T S A H O L I S T I C A P P R O A C H T O D E V E L O P M E N T, C A R I N G F O R E V E R Y P A R T O F A P E R S O N ’ S L I F E . E D U C AT I O N , H E A LT H , FA I T H , F I N A N C I A L I N D E P E N D E N C E , A N D T H E C A P A C I T Y T O D R E A M , A L L P L AY A P A R T I N T H E J O U R N E Y T O R I S E A B O V E P O V E R T Y. A F T E R F O U R Y E A R S I N O U R P R O G R A M , A W O M A N W I L L G R A D U AT E W I T H C O N F I D E N C E , A V O I C E ,
A CAREER, AND A FUTURE.
$
EMPOWERMENT
M O N T H LY INCOME YO U YO U R PURCHASE PROGRAMS (10)
U G A N DA N BENEFICIARY
“Gulu is filled with astounding high spirits and energy; but the lack of opportunity has diminished many people’s hope for prosperity. As their deprivation of sustenance, opportunity, and optimism continues, there is a growing need for effective actions to take place that will counter poverty, offer hope, and establish sustainability.� (13)
Holistic Development In our model of development, we believe in a holistic approach, caring for every part of a person’s life.
Education, health, faith, financial independence, and the capacity to dream,
a l l p l a y a p a r t i n a n i n d i v i d u a l ’ s j o u r n e y t o r i s e a b o v e p o v e r t y. Each woman at 31 Bits makes a sustainable monthly income, enabling her to provide for her family; but our program goes far beyond a paycheck.
We p r o v i d e f i n a n c e t r a i n i n g t h a t
t e a c h e s o u r w o m e n h o w t o s e t f i n a n c i a l g o a l s , s a v e m o n e y, u s e a b a n k a c c o u n t , a n d t a k e o u t and pay back a loan.
We g i v e t h e m a b i k e l o a n , s o t h e y c a n p u t t h e i r l e s s o n s i n t o p r a c t i c e ,
and have an efficient means of transportation. We p r o v i d e E n g l i s h l e s s o n s f o r e v e r y w o m a n i n o u r p r o g r a m , g i v i n g e a c h o f t h e m t h e opportunity to further her education.
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E a c h w o m a n i s p a r t o f a c o m m u n i t y g r o u p , h a s a c c e s s t o a n o n - s i t e c o u n s e l o r, a n d a t t e n d s monthly fellowship, ensuring she is cared for on a personal and spiritual level. Our health education courses educate each woman on how to take care of herself and her children, with a specific emphasis on care for those who are HIV positive.
We ’ v e p a r t n e r e d
w i t h a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , TA S O , t o p r o v i d e e a c h w o m a n w i t h H I V/A I D S t e s t i n g a n d m e d i c i n e . Our business training program equips each woman with the necessary tools for starting a business, like identifying skills and assets, writing a business plan, saving money for a future b u s i n e s s e n d e a v o r, a n d m e e t i n g w i t h a b u s i n e s s m e n t o r. After four to five years in our program, a woman will graduate with confidence, a voice, a c a r e e r, a n d a f u t u r e .
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“ I n o u r m o d e l o f d e v e lo p m e n t , w e b e l i e v e i n a h o l i s t i c a p p r o a c h , c a r i n g f o r e v e r y pa r t o f a p e r s o n ’ s l i f e . E d u c a t i o n , h e a lt h , f a i t h , f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , a n d t h e c a pa c i t y to d r e a m , a l l p l a y a pa r t i n a n i n d i v i d u a l ’ s j o u r n e y to r i s e a b o v e p o v e r t y. �
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Our products Our jewelry designers at 31 Bits use innovation, trend-forecasting, and creativity to design amazing products.
Our beads are made out of recycled paper that comes primarily from
old posters, fliers, and textbooks. The beads are then sealed with a non-toxic, water-based varnish.
Some designs use fabulous textiles found in Eastern African markets.
We a r e
committed to excellence in both quality and design.
The Name “31 Bits” The “31” comes from Proverbs 31, where it describes a diligent woman providing and caring f o r h e r f a m i l y.
Th e “ b i t s ” co m e s f ro m w h at t h e b e a d s a re m a d e o u t o f… b i t s o f p a p e r !
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a story of change: nakato Jackline Jackline was born in Gulu. After her father ’s death, she married at a young age and now h a s t h r e e c h i l d r e n . B e f o r e j o i n i n g 3 1 B i t s , s h e s o l d p r o d u c e o n t h e s t r e e t t o e a r n m o n e y. H o w e v e r, t h e w a g e s h e e a r n e d w a s h a r d l y s u s t a i n a b l e . S i n c e j o i n i n g 3 1 B i t s s h e i s a b l e t o s e n d h e r c h i l d r e n t o s c h o o l a n d p r o v i d e f o r h e r f a m i l y. J a c k l i n e i s v e r y g r a t e f u l f o r t h e skills and education she receives at 31 Bits. Her favorite part of our program in Uganda is English class. She dreams of one day saving enough money to buy a plot of land and b u i l d a h o u s e f o r h e r a n d h e r f a m i l y. J a c k l i n e i s s o t h a n k f u l f o r a l l t h a t G o d h a s g i v e n h e r and for the opportunities she has been presented through 31 Bits.
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“I l i ke my l i f e no w. S i n ce joi ni ng 31 Bi t s, I have mad e a lot of f ri ends t hat s u p p o r t me a nd ca re f o r me . �
“ I a m s o p l eased about 3 1 Bits. I h a v e l e arne d so muc h . M y f r ie n d s d o n’t e ve n rec ognize m e an y m o re b e cause I h ave imp ro ve d m y l ife so muc h . ”
a story of change: oneka helen Helen grew up in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. After her father ’s death, her family moved back to Gulu to live with her aunt and uncle. Her family had a farm where they grew produce. When the rebels came to their village, they destroyed everything, leaving her family with almost nothing. Helen got married and had four children. After ten years of m a r r i a g e , s h e l o s t h e r h u s b a n d t o H I V/A i d s a n d w a s l e f t t o c a r e f o r h e r c h i l d r e n a l o n e . H e l e n joined our program in 2009 and quickly became known as “Mama Helen”. She is one of the community group leaders at 31 Bits and offers wisdom and counsel to many of the women in our program. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her grandchildren. She loves the opportunities and education she has received at 31 Bits and said it makes her feel like she went to a University! After she graduates from 31 Bits, Helen plans on starting her own p o u l t r y b u s i n e s s t o c o n t i n u e p r o v i d i n g f o r h e r c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n .
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3 1 B I T S .CO M
buy a necklace. share their story. give hope.