Roots Create
Creativity as a Healing Act
Creativity as a Healing Act
Founded in 2009, at a moment of hope for South Sudan’s future, The Roots Project brought together women from many tribes, communities often divided by conflict, under one roof. Through traditional beadwork and craft, they began not only preserving cultural heritage but also breaking down barriers of mistrust. Over the years, working side by side, the women forged a sisterhood that has endured civil wars, displacement, economic hardship, and the pandemic.
Beadwork became more than craft. It was meditation, livelihood, and resilience and in times of insecurity, the women persisted, earning income to feed their families while finding strength in creativity and one another. As custodians of traditional art, they rebuilt what war had eroded, reviving beadwork for ceremonies, weddings, and daily life.
In 2018, The Roots Project joined MADE51, a UNHCR global initiative linking refugee artisans with international markets. This partnership elevated the women’s work onto a global stage, with Roots artisans like Nyanachiek Padiet representing South Sudanese women at international forums. Their beadwork has since been featured in curated collections like the Santa Fe Folk Art Market, in New Mexico, alongside Syrian embroidery and Tuareg metalwork, symbolizing global unity through craft.
Today, Roots women produce thousands of handmade pieces each year, sold across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Every necklace, bracelet, or ornament carries not only exquisite craftsmanship but also a story of survival, healing, and dignity. Creativity, at Roots, is a path to self-discovery, healing and building resilient communities.