An initiative to economically emancipate ninenteen internally displaced women in Kampala, Uganda. The women fled Uganda’s long-running rebel war against Joseph Kony in Northern Uganda to an IDP camp near the Kireka rock quarry. The project is designed to transition them from their current low-wage, dangerous occupation as rock crushers to a new life as jewelry designers and artisans. In a few short months, the women have attracted international customers from the UK, Canada, and the United States. Additionally the project is generating revenue for the women through local sales. As artisans, the women can earn in three days of designing and creating jewelry, the equivalent of three to four weeks of crushing rocks 12 hours a day.

The project’s next phase includes:

• Internship program partnering international development students and local development students to train the women on business development, skills training, and marketing
• Finding large scale international buyers through a focused marketing strategy
• New product development
• Locate and open studio space