Akola Makes a Difference this Mother's Day

Photos | Catherine Truman

TOP (ON SALE FOR $19) || NECKLACE C/O (30% OFF WITH CODE BROOKE30) || DENIM C/O || BAG C/O

Mother's Day is right around the corner and I am so excited to share a very special little project that I have recently worked on.  Akola reached out to me a few weeks ago asking if I'd like to be a part of their Mother's Day campaign to help spread the word about their mission and I immediately jumped on board.

KBStyled is a place where I hope to inspire you in one way or another and sharing amazing community causes is important to me to me as well.  So I do truly hope that today's post inspires you to make a difference.

Now to share a bit about Akola and why you will want to familiarize yourself with them.  Akola, which means "she works" is a social business that designs, produces, and sells jewelry (home goods too) globally within a nonprofit framework.  Their focus is to network and partner with rural Uganda communities to empower, train, educate, and employ impoverished women in a way that enables each woman to start a business and provide for her family.  Akola is currently working with 7 communities in Uganda and 2 in Dallas and they employ over 450 women...talk about believing in and empowering women!

These women are the backbone of this gorgeous Akola necklace that I am wearing in today's post.  I am specifically wearing the "Adara" necklace.  The time and the love that is put into each bead for each necklace is just absolutely incredible!  

Here's a glimpse at how this necklace is made:

- An Akola Paperbead Roller (a Paperbead Roller is the job title that many of these women hold) takes long strips of printed paper and carefully handrails them around thin wire.

- Each bead is then coated in nontoxic gloss and then it is set aside later to be strung on a necklace by an Akola Jewelry Producter (another job title that these women hold)

**It takes 7-10 minutes for an Akola member to transform paper and gloss into ONE sophisticated bead.  Talk about a process with lots of TLC involved!

As each woman creates necklaces like the "Adara" they are empowered to meet all of the basic needs of their family...lifting them up out of poverty and paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come.  Through Akola, these women are able to provide healthy meals and clean drinking water to their children and elderly members that they care for.  They also earn enough to send their children to school, provide basic healthcare, and secure a home.

Amina is the name of the Paper Bead Roller that made my "Adara" necklace.  Amina is from Uganda and has 10 children.  Through Akola, she has been able to build a house for family, which she moved into in November 2015.  She aspires to start a garden and she will continue to educate her children and share food with the hungry.

If giving back and doing good is as important to you as it is to me...I encourage you to consider Akola as you plan for the gift you may give to a Mom in your life.  Think of the difference you are making in the life of an impoverished woman (who is also a Mother) in Uganda.

You should also know that 100% of each Akola purchase is reinvested into Akola's mission to empower women in poverty...every cent contributes's to social business that provides women with dependable, living wage every month.

AND...Akola has been so gracious to offer YOU, my supporters and supporters of their mission, 30% off with code "BROOKE30".

I personally feel so much pride each and every time that I wear my beautiful necklace made for me by another Mom, Amina.

Thanks so very much for allowing me to share this very special cause with you!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!