The Emerge Bead Program allows young Sri Lankan women who have survived sexual abuse, marginalizing disabilities, or long-term institutionalization to develop and celebrate their sense of inner-beauty and self-worth, build a community of acceptance, and lay a financial foundation for the future through creating and selling their own unique jewelry.

Emerge provides each woman with her own box of beads and tools to take care of, pictorial guides for creating jewelry, and a goals notebook in which she sets and assesses her own goals every two weeks. Through this notebook she develops ownership of her own ideas. She also keeps a record of her work through a personal portfolio that tracks the beauty of her accomplishments, and the development of her artistry.

Each woman creates jewelry when she is inspired. After two weeks if she achieves her goal, she may increase it, and thus receive more supplies for the following weeks. Over time, her savings, skills, and responsibility grow, while direct support from Emerge decreases.

Emerge facilitates the sale of the jewelry abroad. The profits generated from selling the jewelry, are deposited into each artist's personal savings account which she is allowed to access once she turns 18. Over time, each womans savings, skills, and responsibility grow, while direct support from Emerge decreases. Through their artistry, they build self- worth, and economic independence.