About The Bead Project by TWOPU

In 2013, founder Holly Williamson went on a missions trip to Pader, Uganda. Pader is a Northern District in Uganda and native to the Acholi people. For decades, a man named Joseph Kony and his guerilla army, the LRA, terrorized this people group. They infamously kidnapped children and forced them to do unthinkable acts, even against their own families. They were responsible for the abduction of over 20,000 children, the murder of over 100,000 civilians, and displacement of 1.5 million people. By 2013, the LRA had left, but the effects of their terror remained in Pader: isolation, distrust, immense poverty, and a need/desire for work. Holly felt called to partner with the women there, who carry the heaviest burdens in their society. Holly started by meeting two needs: community and employment through The Bead Project, which employs women making paper bead jewelry and gifts. She connected with a local designer in Austin, Texas to collaborate modern trends with the traditional Ugandan beads and raise money. For over a decade now, The Bead Project has been empowering women and equipping them to succeed beyond the program. The Bead Project is a part of a non-profit, The Women of Pader Uganda, which offers additional programs, resources, and job opportunities in Pader. Read their story