The BeadWorks studio is located in the Operation Come Home building on 150 Gloucester St. in Centretown. BeadWorks provides homeless youth with a safe, creative space to work and an opportunity make money at the same time.
Homeless youth can find a space to foster their creativity and make money at the same time through BeadWorks at Operation Come Home. Operation Come Home is mandated to provide support programs to prevent homeless youth from becoming homeless adults.
In 2008, the BeadWorks program started as a one-time activity that had an "overwhelming response from the youth," says Jennifer Cook, the BeadWorks coordinator, and has developed into a business since then.
According to Cook, the program has two draws. “One is that it is a safe, creative space where youth can be themselves and have an outlet for their creativity, and second, an opportunity to make money.”
“When people buy the jewelry at BeadWorks it enables us to continue to offer these important supports for the youth and to encourage them to continue to express themselves and strive for a healthier life,” says Cook.
Centretown went to the BeadWorks studio to check out just how the jewelry is made.
Hundreds of handmade pieces of jewelry are on display in the BeadWorks studio on Gloucester St. Youth make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings and put them up for sale in studio and at events across the city .Makers of the pieces earn 75 per cent of the sale and the remaining money goes back into the program.
