When Kallie Dovel traveled to Uganda in 2007 to help in an orphanage, she had no idea how many lives she was about to positively influence, including her own and her friends. During that trip she met women who lived in areas that provided no financial opportunities. Then she made another observation: These women were talented and hand rolling beautiful jewelry from used paper. Dovel thought if only they had a market, a place to sell, then they could make money and pull themselves out of poverty, send their children to school and more.
Soon thereafter, Dovel returned to the United States with a box of jewelry; the jewelry pieces were a hit. In 2008, she teamed up with her friends to launch 31 Bits, a socially conscious jewelry company that empowers women in Northern Uganda to rise above poverty. The founders started out with six women from North Uganda but the program has grown dramatically. 31 Bits has now helped more than 100 women.
31 Bits’ name is derived from Proverbs 31, which describes a diligent woman providing and caring for her family. The “bits” comes from what the beads are made of bits of paper. 31 Bits has been able to provide Ugandan women with incomes as well as a five-year holistic development program. The program provides each woman with health education, finance training, counseling, and business training. “She belongs to a community where she can earn an income, be educated, and dream for her future. After five years in our program, the women graduate, leaving with an education, a career, social equity, confidence, and a voice. We now have 120 women in our program whose lives are changed. Their children’s lives are changed. Their community is changed, and we got to be a part of it,” says Courtney Frantz, 31 Bits office manager.
31 Bits’ product repertoire now includes bangles, belts, a wedding line, purses, headbands, earrings and necklaces, which are available for purchase on 31bits.com. For customers who want to do more than purchase, Frantz suggest becoming part of the 31 Bits mission through volunteer or internship opportunities. “For those of you that don’t live in Southern California, we recommend you become a 31 Bits House Party Host! You’ll give your friends and family an opportunity to make powerful purchases …purchases that are changing women’s lives in Uganda,” says Frantz.
