After losing six out of eight children to AIDS and being left to care for a husband with an amputated leg and four grandchildren, three of whom are HIV positive, Josephine Namutebi or “Jaja” still is said to be the life of the party.Jaja is one of the many members of BEADFORLIFE, a group of women who are from Uganda. Living within a world of constant poverty, AIDS, and war, these women have defied the boundaries of their struggles and found a way to support their families by making beads.

BEADFORLIFE was just one of the tables where one could purchase numerous items made directly from the artisan at Guilford’s Shopping for Change event which was held in Sternberger Auditorium on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

“I figured it would be great to have an event where everything that people bought, they felt that their money was going to good use,” said Director of Interdisciplinary Leadership for Social Change Judy Harvey, who initiated Shopping for Change last year when she wanted a place for a woman named Regina from Ghana to sell her jewelry. Regina was then able to put herself though school and will hopefully soon be starting a business as a seamstress.

Shopping for Change was sponsored by Guilford’s Leadership for Social Change group and co-sponsored by the Greenleaf and Community Learning. Some main goals of the event were to give people an opportunity to buy directly from the artisan, learn about fair trade, and to remind them to re-think consumerism.

“We cannot get away from the fact that we consume so much, but we can do it in a self-fulfilling way,” said senior Jenn St. Mary, who helped Harvey run the event and is working on expanding ethical purchasing at Guilford.

Many different organizations and groups took part in the event, including Deep Roots, Ten Thousand Villages and the Greenleaf. There were also simple gift stations, where attendees had the opportunity to make gifts such jewelry, bags and peace mobiles.

“In general people need to be more selective with the things they buy,” said sophomore Phil Kennedy, who was selling recycled bags and wrapping paper. “We buy a lot of things we think we need but never use.” He had a sign on his table informing readers that the United States produces an additional five million tons of waste during the holidays and 400 tons of this is wrapping paper.

In Boren Lounge, students and faculty were also given the opportunity to participate in an eco-swap, where they could exchange unwanted items.

“We’re just trying to make people think, it’s a different form of recycling,” said sophomore Joel Popkin who is a member of Leadership for Social change and had the idea for the eco-swap.

As the holidays rapidly approach, and we enter the time of year when consumerism is at its peak, Guilford students are being reminded to think twice about how they contribute.

“Be aware of how you are spending your money,” Harvey said. “Know where it is going.