Join us in welcoming Melody MacDuffee back for another round of classes (see individual listings) and for a Trunk Show of handmade beads and jewelry from Ghana. Her Trunk Shows support her Soul of Somanya Organziation. We always love seeing her collection of Symbolic Charms and Findings, Cabochons, and Painted Beads! Soul of Somanya is a small orgainzation headquartered in Moblie, Alabama. However, the real action takes place in Somanya-Krobo in Ghana's Eastern Region, where we are working to develop sustainable employment opportunities in the field of bead work for disadvantaged young people whose job prospecgts are very limited by their lack of family support and/or limited leves of education. It all began when an issue of Bead & Button magazine found its way into the rural commnity of Somanya. A representative of a group of Krobo artisans emailed Melody MacDuffee, one of the jewelry designers featured in that issue, asking of she would come and teach them her skills. Six months later, lugging six suitcases filled with jewelry-making tools and supplies, Melody was on her way to Ghana. Over the course of the next eight months, a concept evolved that would define Soul of Somanya's purpose. Melody and Arkuh Bernard Tettley, co-founder and project manager in Ghana, worked closely together to make the concept a reality. In July of 2008, Soul of Somanya hired a group of talented young people, who quickly picked up a wide range of jewelry-making skills. Today, Sould of Somanya artisans earn a steady, living wage in a healthy, pleasant working enviroment doing something they enjoy...creating jewelry and other bead products.