Beads4Needs Women Project

Beads4Needs was created by university students in a Global Issues course as a class project to support the economic empowerment of rural women in Kenya. What began as simple beadwork made from melted beads has evolved into a women-led enterprise that now includes the production of traditional “kiondo” African bags, expanding skills, markets, and income opportunities. Through this initiative, women build entrepreneurship skills, strengthen community connections, and develop diversified revenue streams that promote long-term economic stability and self-reliance for their families and communities.