BEADS For Education' Announces its First Annual 'Break The Chains Of Illiteracy' Walkathon

BEADS for Education is an organization dedicated to improving the status of women in Kenya through women's business development and girls education. Working closely with AWF, BEADS developed a successful Maasai women's cooperative in 1993. Today, the Dupoto Women's Group makes beautiful hand-crafted beaded products which include dog collars, bowls, coasters, and many other unique items. Traditional Maasai jewelry is also promoted. These products are often the only source of income for the women who support more than 125 children.

This year, BEADS for Education is putting together a 100-mile Walkaton to raise awaraness about the need for education amongst Maasai communities and to raise much-needed funds. The Break the Chains of Illiteracy Walkathon will take place from January 5th and 12th, 2006. Walkers will walk from Isinya to Amboseli National Park. Since 1998 BEADS has provided full scholarships for Kenyan girls to attend school, and now sponsors more than 200 girl in Isinya and Amboseli. BEADS also cultivates Human Rights Awareness and will sponsor its first girls' initiation ceremony this August, and helps women to become economically independent through small business cooperatives.

Who will walk? The older sponsored girls, their families, Maasai warriors, and BEADS sponsors from the United States will participate in this amazing event, which passes through some breathtaking African landscapes. Proceeds from the walk will support the program in improving women's literacy, AIDS / HIV and human rights awareness and women's economic status in the Isinya and Amboseli regions of Kenya.

This walk will:

Draw Kenyan attention to the issues of the status and education of women and AIDS education training.

Promote pride and community among the sponsored girls, their families and communities.

Enhance self-worth and sense of accomplishment for the walkers, especially for the sponsored girls, who will have the rare opportunity to participate in something which is solely about them and their advancement.

Expose Kenyan communities along the walkers' path to the issues of education and improving the status of women.

Increase the visibility of the BEADS programs.

Meet the walkers and sponsor one today! Visit www.beadsforeducation.org

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For more information, please contact:

email: beads4education@aol.com

phone:(609) 823-7701