Aspen’s efforts deliver hope, aid to Uganda

Susan Cannarella, a property facultative underwriting assistant at Aspen Re in Rocky Hill, Conn., is the force behind Beads4Dreams, a non-profit organization that creates jewelry that can be sold at craft shows, community events, church fairs and through friends and family. Beads4Dreams buys colorful, hand-painted beads from the Women’s Craft Group at Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda, and Cannarella uses them to produce beautiful hand-made necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other wearable items.

Through her work, Susan has generated more than $68,000 in sales since 2009; Beads4Dreams donates every penny to the Adara Development, an organization that works hand-in-hand with Kiwoko Hospital to improve the health of women and children in the region. Adara’s clinical expertise in maternal infant child health has lifted Kiwoko Hospital to a best practice facility for neonatal intensive care and maternal health.

Kiwoko Hospital, which started out as a small clinic under a tree, is now a thriving regional hospital for the 500,000 people who live in the surrounding Nakaseke district. Nakaseke is home to a very high percentage of people that are living in extreme poverty and have HIV/AIDS. There is an urgent need for funds and supplies to support the hospital and the people in and around this region. Jewelry sales from inspirational Aspen colleagues like Susan go directly to supporting the maternal ward at Kiwoko.