Stoneham Students Raise Money for Ugandan Women

The prospect of making a difference in the world may seem like a daunting task, but it's something students Leah Zizza and Tia DeVincenzo have accomplished through their BeadforLife fundraiser.

Working with BeadforLife

The pair of 17-year-old seniors recently raised about $800 for BeadforLife, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that strives toward aiding impoverished African communities. "Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps," according to the BeadforLife website.

Aiding Ugandan Women

Through the BeadforLife program, Tia and Leah spearheaded the local effort to raise money for the cause by selling chapstick, soap and decorative beads made of colorful recycled paper by Ugandan women.

"Even though we don't get to go to Uganda, we get to hear all the things that (the money we raised) provides them with, and one of the main things is education and home," Zizza said. "The women there explain that they went through a very rough time with their government and just to have a home is like being rich for them, so by selling the beads here they get to build new homes there and we get to hear the stories which is very rewarding."

Donation Drive

DeVincenzo and Zizza, both of whom are members of the Outreach Club, sold the Ugandan items during lunch periods at the High School for three weeks prior to the holidays.

"The money that we raised for them helps each woman and their family become more independent and self-sustaining," DeVincenzo said. "On $20 here, they can feed their family there for so long and it's rewarding to know you could help someone achieve that.

"BeadforLife also supports entrepreneurial development such as setting up savings accounts so just by buying a few of these bracelets now can help a woman for years and even help their family."

Outreach Club Making a Difference

Kacey Stratford, a social studies teacher at the High School and advisor for the Outreach Club, said the Outreach Club has worked with BeadforLife for at least three years and raised nearly $5,000 for the cause. But, as far as this year is concerned, it was Tia and Leah who spent the most time on the project as well as running the Club as co-chairpersons.

"They were the ones who have done a lot of work as far as leadership, organizing the projects, deciding what we are going to do for projects and really a lot of the grunt work, including counting the money, counting the jewelry and making the schedule for other students to sell the jewelry," Stratford said.

Ugandan Gems

The Outreach Club offered about 15 different items, ranging in price from $4-19, according to Stratford.

"The jewelry was a big hit with the students and the staff at the school," Straford said. "Every year fellow teachers of mine have asked if we can do the fundraiser again because they enjoy it, so we've continued to work with BeadforLife over the years."

Helping People Across the Globe

Stratford said she is proud of the work the girls have done this year to make an impact not only through the BeadforLife initiative, but also for running a holiday collection drive for , which sends care packages to local troops stationed overseas in Afghanistan.

The Outreach Club has also made a difference by working with the American Red Cross, doing tsunami and earthquake relief fundraisers and other charitable projects, Stratford said.