In 2003 Dr. Karambu Ringera visited a group of HIV infected mothers in Meru, Kenya who were desperate to secure their children’s education and future.  Moved by their courage in the face of their overwhelming challenges, Dr. Karambu resolved to help in their plight and organized a Kenyan cultural event in the U.S. raising $400 and enabling the seven children of those infected mothers to go to school and International Peace Initiatives (IPI) was born.

Later, as word spread of IPI’s efforts more women can to Dr. Karambu asking for help with food and medical costs.  In keeping with her self-sustaining philosophy, Dr. Karambu posed the question: ‘What can you do to help yourselves?’ thus impelling those women to take charge and responsibility for their own destinies.  The women identified their skills in jewelry-making as the answer and marked their commitment to taking charge of the lives by creating "Beads 4 Peace".

Creating self-reliance

BOLD, which stands for ‘Bettering Our Lives by Design’ is the IPI store which sells the products made by the different cottage industries developed by IPI to support the various programs.  "Beads 4 Peace", our jewelry project, provides the women with economic, social and spiritual strength, independence and empowerment.  The jewelry are designed and produced by local women using local seeds, Kenyan Amber made in the group’s workshop and other stones with all proceeds given directly to the workshop workers salaries, the women and to IPI’s programs.

BOLD encourages investment in women by providing them with a platform for economic independence giving them the freedom and choice to direct their own fate and break out of the cycle of poverty, helplessness and hopelessness.  BOLD has educate these women on the advantages of participating in income generating projects as means of supporting themselves and creating self-reliance.


From hopelessness to hopefulness

BOLD has also been greatly significant in granting women social and spiritual benefits by providing a forum used as a psycho-social support network.  As the women come together to work they share their challenges and experiences providing comfort, encouragement and ideas on how to better their predicament.  Importantly, this ‘peace-building initiative’ allows the women to identify together what aspects of their lives they are not at peace with and to subsequently commit to a specific course to transform that situation.

Whilst BOLD offers a chance for economic betterment and personal empowerment the project’s most significant role is in providing a platform to move from a state of hopelessness to a state of hopefulness and empowerment.

BOLD is currently owned and operated as a subsidiary of International Peace Initiatives (IPI).

Please shop our BOLD store on line to support these women and programs.