Soul of Somanya's mission is to raise the standard of living in the town of Somanya-Krobo in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa, as well as in its surrounding areas, by offering sustainable employment opportunities at a living wage. In June of 2008, we hired eight young people to make jewelry and other beaded items. Five of these original artisans saved enough money in the first year or so to go back to school, at least for awhile.
There are very few jobs in rural Ghana, and young people without strong family connections or good educations are at risk for migrating to the cities, hoping to find work there. A great many end up on the streets as prostitutes, thieves or beggars. However, Soul of Somanya employees, who typically begin with no experience or training at all in the arts, receive paid training in jewelry-making, and go on to earn a steady living wage in a healthy, pleasant working environment doing something they enjoy…creating jewelry and other beaded products.
Soul of Somanya is also buying larger and larger quantities of Krobo beads, some for use in our products and some for resale. We are working hard to popularize the Krobo beads throughout the world.
While the Soul of Somanya jewelry artisans are our main focus, the entire community benefits from the "trickle-down effects" of this project, since we buy as many of our supplies as possible from local vendors. In addition, more of the town's residents now have the financial means to patronize local shops and buy services from local providers.
as well as in 
products and some for resale. We are working hard to popularize the Krobo 
