Description
This bead was handcrafted in Pwualugu in the Bongo District by Amina Suliemana. She
is a 55-year-old woman struggling to sustain her livelihood and her 5 children. Over the
years she has survived under the patronage of well-wishers and benevolence.
She was born at a time where girl education especially within the Northern part of Ghana
was overlooked. Growing up in a family household she spent most of her days catering to
the needs of her parents and her male siblings who had been sent to school.
The struggles of Amina’s life were compounded when her father who was the
breadwinner of the family passed on. Being one of 15 children to inherit her father’s 10
sheep and maize farm it was clear that it was not enough to sustain her livelihood.
Synonymous with northern tradition, at a prime age she was married off at age 16 to a
man about the same age of her father when he died. Today she is widowed and left with 5
children of her own that she needs to take care of. Realising the important role education
could have played on her life, Amina is committed to ensuring that all her children
including her 3 girls Safiatu, Memuna and Aysha receive at least a fundamental education
that would prime them for their life journeys.
In line with Taimako’s effort to improve capacities of women and children, we are
committed in ensuring that Amina and her children are given the requisite support for
their personal development. Amina has been trained in beadmaking and financial
management. Proceeds from the sale of her beads will go into supporting her and training
other individuals who share similar stories to Amina. Thank you for helping us break this cycle of poverty.