Story of our latest trip of December  2003
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Click here to see the images from the show!

NEW!  
What a great place   CUBA     Caring and exciting people, Beads of Hope returned to Cuba to attend and help our students at the national art fair.  Being asked to be involved was a great honor.  The students sold almost all their jewelry they had made and beads of hope donated.  Northwest Bead Society donated many beads we took along.  Thank you!! Wonderful Guidetta from Italy manned the booth.  She donated her time and we paid her air and hotel,  soon we will have pictures.  Thanks to all and a wonderful new year.  In April I plan on visiting Africa to teach children the art of jewelry making.  

Guiditta's story about the first show in La Havana

On the 12th of December 2003, after a 48 hours trip, 1 connecting flight missed, 1 night overstay in Madrid, I finally got to Cuba, exhausted. I missed the set up day for our first show in La Havana, but they did a very nice job. Everybody was very excited: "Cuentas de Esperanza" displaying in the "Fiart" (International Fair of Artisans) with the most known designers of the all country. Rules are very strange there, we couldn't actually sell directly to customers, but we had a vendor assigned from the government. We could give suggestion to customers, but not cash the money. We had our first fashion show, the catwalk of our 40!!!!girls was very successful. You'll see some of the pictures attached. The first two days were pretty slow, things were not working out really well, so we took a decision, we changed our booth completely and there we started to rock'n roll. You won't believe it: we sold out!! The average price was 3 or 5 dollars a piece, you really have to sell a lot, but that's what they can afford, it's a different reality. I have never seen anybody so happy: Mayra and Ivet are just doing a fabulous job. The project is now nationwide, recognized by the government and very successful. Next year we are planning to start a beach collection! So, please don't stop believing in this project, we do believe in it. Donations! Donations! Donations! Thank you

Giuditta Badiali