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I do voluntary service in Africa and I have also done a Masters degree in rural development. When I was doing research for a Phd I discovered a group of women in Uganda, who were quarrying for stones to make a living. The women were refugees from the north of the country, where a war was ongoing. They were living in absolute poverty. Concerned by their plight I started to show the women how to make beads from paper. They had no scissors or measuring tape but I brought them varnish and taught them the basics. They soon got the hang of it and now there are at least 1600 workers involved in bead-making locally. They produce all sorts of things, including jewellery and bags. It has become a sustainable business for them and it has meant they have been able to buy an 18 acre site - in 5 years' time they will own their own houses - now they have a future. Contributed by Florence Creighton at the AHOW event in Enniskillen Library.