Bono Bracelets Now Available
In October, 2009, many of you may remember Bono’s friend and AIDS activist Agnes Nyamayarwo as one of the speakers at the U2 Conference - The Hype and The Feedback.
Bono personally funded the antiretroviral drugs for Agnes and a group of women in her village of Kampala, Uganda back in 2002. It was that first meeting with Agnes that inspired him to go on and form the ONE organization. He also invited Agnes to go on the Heart of America Tour because he wanted Americans to see a real face of AIDS in Africa.
As Agnes and the ladies got healthier from their treatments, they formed the Mulago Positive Women’s Network. They opened a small store in Kampala and began selling beautifully crafted jewelry, statues, dolls, handbags, greeting cards and many other items. It is important to note that 100 percent of all profits of the items sold go directly to the MPWN. It is used for AIDS education and treatments, vaccines and mosquito nets for protection against malaria for the children, and even school books and supplies. It is their goal to help the families in their village and the surrounding areas stay healthy and get out of poverty through education.
Last year, the ladies of the MPWN honored their dear friend Bono by making a beaded bracelet with his name on it. Many of our forum members purchased them and are excited to wear them when they attend their next concert. A new batch was received from Africa and are now available. The cost is $10.00 with all proceeds going to help the women and their families. Please contact
[email protected] if you are interested in purchasing a BONO bracelet.
Agnes and the ladies of the MPWN wanted everyone to know that these were made with love for Bono for all he has done for them and that their thoughts and prayers are with him each and every day for a full recovery from his injury.
For weekly updates on Agnes and the MPWN and a photo of the bracelet , please join the discussions in the Have a Heart for Africa Thread in the Real World section of our forum.
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1st comment! I might go get a bracelet after graduation when I have time: I’m speaking at 8th grade ceremony and I’m sooo nervous! I’m practicing my speech every day! I need a new bracelet though…my favorite wrist band broke yesterday!
I’m getting the Bono bracelet because it’s a conversation starter; so I can tell people where it’s from, who made it and why I wear it. *smiles*
Shade, that is very thoughtful of you to consider helping the MPWN by purchasing the BONO bracelet.
Michele, that is a wonderful reason to purchase and wear the bracelet. You really have captured the true spirit of why they were made!
Thank you to all who have supported Agnes and the MPWN. Sharing their stories with others is just as important.
I’d rather just donate $10.00.
The bracelets I think might turn people off. I don’t see the connection, might as well just have a bracelet that says “Obama” on it or something.
Thanks StrongGirl. Now another question. Where do we buy them?! This reminds me of the Red themed uhhh what do we call them: fund raisers? That Bono did. My I-pod is a Red I-pod and of course contains a TON of u2 songs. 109 I think.
Thanks u2 also for giving me the best idea for father’s day present! My dad is going to love getting Rattle and Hum. It’s cool how me and my dad can spend time together just listening to music or watching Under a Blood Red Sky…
Pooky,
A donation of any kind is always greatly appreciated by people who live in poverty. The ladies of the MPWN, however, want to use their talents to make products that they are proud of to sell in the marketplace. In turn, the money made helps their families and communities break out of poverty ( education being the key way out for their children). So that is why selling the jewelry and crafts is so important to them. Think of it as the old phrase…they want a “hand up” and opposed to a “hand out.” But know that they treasure the generosity of those who choose to donate as well. Their products may not be for everyone and that is perfectly fine. As for the connection to Bono-I stated it in my blog piece. Bono saved their lives by providing them with their antiretroviral drugs at no cost to them. Quite frankly, Agnes was very ill the day she first met Bono and didn’t expect to live much longer. Yet, as a nurse, she traveled all over educating families about HIV/AIDS prevention so no other family would have to endure the loss of a loved one like she had (her husband and son). She was Bono’s inspiration at the very beginning before he even started the ONE campaign. It is because of this chance meeting of these two people that millions of lives were saved. That is about as strong of a connection that two people can have. The bracelets were made to honor the man that saved their life. Believe it or not, Agnes had no idea who Bono was when they first met. She knew he was a musician but had no knowledge of U2. So I hope that explains the connection to you better. Perhaps the bracelet may turn off some who don’t like Bono , just as an Obama tee shirt would turn off those who do not care for him. It does not mean that his supporters can’t wear them. So what it really comes down to here is simply an act of kindness and love to a man who showed these ladies kindness and love. Those who support this cause or who simply like Bono and the bracelet are welcome to purchase them. Those who do not , will not. It is just that simple.
Your opinion is personal to you and that is certainly respected here.
Shade, you must send an e-mail to this address: [email protected] with your order and any other questions you may have about the bracelet or other products. Thank you for your support.
StrongGirl:
How do you know all this? Are you working for the government 0.o only kidding but seriously…You know alot. Thanks for the answer either way.
Well. Maybe I shouldn’t have wrote that. But let me tell you what I think would be cool. Just some cool Africa bracelet or necklace or craft or whatever. Doesn’t have to say “U2″ or “Bono” or anything…
Personally, I think that just having a bracelet with a MWPN logo or design would sell better than anything else. And then you could tell people about the organization… Good luck and I hope you make a lot of money.
Pooky, there are lots of other things for sale besides the bracelets. You should check it out, the craftwork is beautiful!
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org/store.html
Hi EveryONE,
I’m just getting the chance to check out the conversation in this thread written so well by Lisa. Lisa has come on board as one of the strongest supporters of what we do at the MPWN website for Agnes Nyamayarwo & the women of the MPWN.
She has been raising money for the women for the last 18 months & has contributed over $1,000 to the MPWN through her own personal efforts in selling their crafts in her area.
She speaks quite well about Agnes’ history with Bono & ONE and I made sure that she got the chance to talk to Agnes by phone during the U2 Conference last year.
My name is Debbie & I have been Agnes’ friend for nearly four yrs now. I first met her when she appea(red) with Bono on “The Heart of America” tour in Lincoln Nebraska in Dec. 2002. I reconnected with her four yrs later at a ONE regional conference event and have stayed the closest of friends since.
I started the MPWN website, MySpace & FB pages for Agnes and the women of the MPWN because they wanted an opportunity for average people - like us - to have a way to make a DIRECT connection with people living in poverty in Africa. This is what we try to do in our social media for Agnes & the MPWN.
The reason WHY the women make the BONO bracelets is, quite honestly, that they love him. THEY LOVE HIM FOR SAVING THEIR LIVES.
If it wasn’t for Bono personally paying for some of their ARV’s, like Agnes’, they simply would have DIED of AIDS. Agnes is alive today because Bono saved her life. He has saved the other women’s lives through his work with ONE, getting them access to their AIDS medication that they can’t afford to buy themselves.
Out of gratitude, the women make their BONO bracelets.
As excavation has also pointed out, if you check our website you’ll see just SOME of the other items the women make to sell to support themselves & their children.
ALL proceeds from the sale of MPWN items go directly back to the women who make the items!
You can’t do better than that!
I hope that Lisa’s and my words have helped some to better understand the MPWN, Agnes’ longtime friendship w/Bono and our activities in support of these brave & beautiful African women.
We hope to hear back from some more of you regarding their purchase. We only have 25 of them left & no more available until October!
Living Positively, debbie
I don’t mean to be negative but…technically Bono hasn’t saved Agnes’ life. We have no cure for HIV least of all its’ final stage: AIDS. Medication costs alot: good for Bono helping her out, but I’ll really cheer when we can save everyone…
Shade, you are entitled to your opinion but that is the way Agnes & the others in TASO who had their ARV’s paid for by Bono FEEL about him.
I’m simply stating what they have told me. I respect their feelings and opinions of the man.
Living Positively, debbie
I get it: I’m just stating the facts…My teacher brainwashed me at the end of the year with a course on HIV and AIDS which coincidentaly I almost fainted during…
By the way your positive attitude is astounding. Right now I’m just sort of bummed out and my faith in mankind is just…not there. It’s all about the oilspill that’s affecting my future. I don’t know. I appreciate the cheerfulness of your comments either way….
Hi!
Shade I know what you mean about being cynical and jaded about the world right now, I am too. That’s why I support MPWN, it makes me feel reassured to know the profits from my purchases are going directly into the hands of women in Africa. It bring me a little light in all the dark.
I bought both the ONE and the BONO bracelet and Michele you are so right, they are conversation starters! I am proud to wear them and I get lots of compliments. I’m wearing my Bono bracelet today because it would have been concert day.