Wood and Recycled Plastic Beaded Dangle Earrings from Ghana, "Odehyie"

“My name is Eva Nana Yaa Kassum. I was born in 1996 in Accra, and the type of craft I practice is jewelry. I like to share the little I have with others to make them feel good. When I was in junior high school. I remember I never took money to school because I didn’t have it. I couldn’t go to the school canteen to eat nor contribute to class donations because of that. My friends called me stingy and said things to hurt me, but they didn’t know I really had no money. I never gave up on myself, because I knew that with God all things are possible and I can now say that I have overcome that difficulty.

“I got interested in this craft by watching my Mum design and craft with her beads, it was always appealing. What really attracted me to this craft was the happiness I feel when putting together different kinds of beads to create jewelry; and also when I see people wearing them and it makes their outfit look complete. I mastered this craft by giving it my full concentration and practicing a lot. The materials I use are wood, terracotta and glass beads. They are not difficult to work with, and I have particular people I buy from. I do not make any of the materials. I get my inspiration from things around me, and sometimes from my Mum’s crafts.

“It has been difficult starting on my own. I needed the support of my Mum to start, otherwise I wouldn’t have started at all. Getting the money, the beads and the people to help took a very long time, but in the end I got the help and here I am. I work with a few family members, and before we start, I ask them which part they can do really well and I give it to them. Some are good with the hooking, packing, or measuring while others just love the stringing of the beads. I do my designing myself.

“My dream is to have a big company in the future that deals in beads and also to train others to stand on their own in this business. “