For over 20 years, the people of Northern Uganda endured the terror of warlord Joseph Kony and his rebel army, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Infamous for kidnapping children and forcing them to commit atrocities—even against their own communities—the LRA was responsible for the abduction of an estimated 20,000 children, the murder of over 100,000 civilians, and the displacement of 1.5 million people.

Pader, a town in Northern Uganda, became home to a displaced persons camp during the conflict. While these camps offered protection from the rebel army, they also brought new hardships, including disease, abuse by corrupt leaders, and the spread of STDs.

When Holly Williamson first visited Pader in 2013, she witnessed the lingering devastation firsthand—poverty, isolation, and deep distrust within the community. Women, often widowed or abandoned, bore the greatest burdens as they struggled to care for their families. After hearing a local pastor's heartfelt plea for help, Holly prayerfully founded The Women of Pader Uganda and launched The Bead Project to create jobs through a skill many women already possessed: crafting paper beads.

It quickly became clear that The Bead Project was about much more than making jewelry. It sparked community, built friendships, developed job skills, and ignited hope. As the women’s enthusiasm grew, so did the vision. In 2017, The Women of Pader Uganda (TWOPU) officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, TWOPU offers programs in spiritual growth, business and leadership training, economic empowerment, and agricultural development.

At the heart of The Bead Project is a simple but powerful goal: to equip women to recognize their own potential, become leaders, and write their own success stories. Every purchase from The Bead Project directly supports this mission of bringing hope, healing, and empowerment to the people of Pader.