“If you really want to help people in developing countries to grow economically, you must teach them what it is that you are successfully doing.”

When I read those lines an idea suddenly came to me: “we can do that. At Trollbeads we know how to make glass beads. We know how to sell them successfully. We can teach them.”

-Lise Aagaard

This special offer comes from the story about the people who were taught how to make glass beads - and ended up creating UNIQUES, taking Trollbeads in an entirely new direction, bringing joy and inspiration to thousands of people across the world.

It was our plan to educate 8 students in the art of glass bead making. On our arrival, 25 very hopeful, unemployed men and women turned up. There was no way we could or wanted to choose, so the team decided to teach everybody for two days and then pick those most qualified for the job. If the workshop turned out to be a success, we would establish more workstations later. 12 people, 8 women and 4 men were selected for further training.

The glass workers sent us beautiful work, but the color schemes seemed to have a life of their own. They matched the patterns with great precision and skill, but they didn’t always follow the color scheme specified by the designs. When asked why, the glass workers simply replied: “when we run out of one color we just use another until we get the right color back in stock.” With glass sourced from Italy, half way around the planet, it could take time to get stocked up if rods were not ordered in time.

Beautiful artwork was literally piling up in the Copenhagen office, so we made a decision: “let creativity rule!”

“I don’t consider the glass bead workshops a charity project. I had an idea of how we at Trollbeads could maybe make a positive difference - that’s all! Once a workshop was set up it was down to the people there to make it happen. And I am all in awe of their achievements. I taught them how to make beads, but the way they developed their skills and how they have used them leaves me speechless. They have taken Trollbeads to a whole new level and in directions I could never have imagined. Thousands of people across the world adore their unique designs – but their biggest fan is me.”

-Lise Aagaard, Trollbeads Founder