Path of Paper reycles paper into empowerment!

Path of Paper began in 2007 when Kathryn O'Grady joined the Peace Corps, after graduating from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. As a Peace Corps volunteer Kathryn was stationed in the dusty town of Iganga, in the eastern African country Uganda. While there Kathryn worked with a great non-governmental organization and was introduced to the Gemakumyino Women's Group. It was love at first sight! The women involved in the Gemakumyino Women's Group are hardworking, artistic and were waiting for the opportunity to use their abilities to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Hence, POP was born.
Path of Paper uses recycled paper to create beautiful jewelry, purses, bowls, bracelets etc. These products transform waste into empowerment and income for the lives of women in Iganga, Uganda.
When you buy from POP, you are not only are you buying a beautiful quality item, but you are supporting real women with real needs.
Thanks to our board of directors, UAOWF, and the vast network of women and men worldwide who have helped make this a reality.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

mpola mpola

Hey everybody,
I just added a paypal donate button to this blog ( pretty big deal for a die hard luddite like myself)! I'm hoping that we can raise money to aid in funding my trip to Uganda in February, as well as take one step closer to being able to sell beads online, and make it easier for anyone who wants to donate to our cause.

About two weeks ago my business partners and I ( my mother of course, and my Aunt Val who uses her business degree to help us create necessary paper work, sell beads, etc etc) met up in Milwaukee Wisconsin and worked on, amongst other things, our Fair Trade Federation Application. It seems we're back on this route again; trying to get Fair Trade Certified to up our credentials, and hopefully get us into some stores!

As we spoke, the list of things we need ( and want) to do in order to keep Path of Paper running grew by the second. We are well aware of our limitations and realize quite fully that we might be in over our heads, but the good thing is that our motivation is back! So be ready for lots of updates, lots of changes and a whole lot more professionalism!

Path of Paper is improving and I'm already counting down the days until I am back in Uganda.
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4 comments:

  1. Aunt ValAugust 2, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Hi Kate, thanks to a great woman we have the beads in a clinic in Hartland, WI. Hopefully this will help to spread the word of POP as well as sell some of the women's items!!

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  2. momAugust 3, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Hi Kate,
    This is your mother, actually your business partner, don't faint. This is my first blog comment ever! IF I can do this than all those young tech savy people can surely help us support POP. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon and working on the Fair Trade Application.

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  3. momAugust 10, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    well I am here in NYC visiting Kate. Actually Kate has me working like crazy. Although we still have a lot of work to do on the Fair Trade Application we have made great headway. Our goal is to have the application completed by the end of the month. Positive thinking can't hurt right??
    We also had Kate's friend Nicole and her husband Drew over for dinner last night and of course we talked POP. I am now very excited about the potential of finding an intern to help us complete the non profit status Federal IRS application. We are definitely on the forward move now!

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  4. Path of PaperAugust 25, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    Hey mom and aunt val!
    Glad to see you two are paying attention! Hope you still are. I'm working on all the goals we talked about, but it's been a challenge on top of moving!
    ps- mom, positive thinking is the way to go! <3

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