You Matter!

One of the most incredible & life changing parts of our recent trip to India was the time we spent with Harvest India, in the southern state of Andrah Pradesh. The reason for my initial contact with them was because one of the sewing centers for the Princess Project is on their campus which is located near Tenali. At that time I had no idea how enormous & how varied their work really is, and how deeply I would be affected by my time with Harvest.

We learned and experienced so many things while staying with them, especially about the caste system of India. Their work touches the lives of the poor, the untouchables, the homeless, the eldery, those trapped in prostitution, lepers & gypsies, and SO many orphaned children, who are the promise of a better tomorrow in India. I could hardly believe how many lives are affected & changed by Harvest India's amazing staff & all the projects they are involved in!

Please take a few minutes to watch a beautiful video about Harvest, at http://vimeo.com/24263722 This short film so perfectly shows the message that is communicated by everything that Harvest India does... each act of love towards the leper, the homeless, the elderly, those cast aside as worthless says one amazing thing... "You Matter!!"

That is a message that SO MANY people in India need desperately to hear.

Why Fair Trade??

5 years ago, all I knew about purchasing Fair Trade was that it most likely meant spending more money for something.

It is a subject that you hear about more & more these days, however I find that few people have a real understanding of what exactly Fair Trade means. So I thought I would share some thoughts and ideas on the issue as well as how it relates to fighting human trafficking.

According to Handmade Expressions, "Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency, and respect. This system of exchange seeks to create greater equity and partnership in the international trading system." So what does this mean for us as consumers? And why should we purchase Fair Trade?

Every time we choose to purchase a fair trade item, we are supporting a just and sustainable global economic system. Each purchase made is a step towards the eradication of global poverty. And contrary to what I used to believe, purchasing fair trade does not necessarily mean spending more money for something. Since fair trade organizations work directly with producers, this means they are cutting out exploitative middlemen. This keeps products more affordable for consumers and returns a greater percentage of the price to the producers.

It is easy to wonder if purchasing Fair Trade really makes a difference, and the answer is "Definitely!"

Why purchase Fair Trade?? Because~

~It offers respect for the hard work of talented people.

~It provides a sustainable living for developing communities.

~It supports conservation of the environment

~It empowers women and minorities.

~Fair Trade fights forced labor, slavery and child labor!!

If a young woman in India is able to earn a fair wage sewing or making local handicrafts, she is no longer vulnerable to human trafficking.

If an impoverished parent in Cambodia is able to earn a fair wage, selling one daughter to a brothel owner in order to feed the rest is no longer the only option.

Fair Trade businesses can open up opportunities and creates choices for women, where once prostitution may have been the only option they could see.

So, how can we help this movement to grow?

~We can help to educate our friends and family about the benefits of buying Fair Trade items.

~We can begin to make more educated choices about how & where we spend our money.

~We can demand Fair Trade products at the places we shop.

We often don't realize the power we have here in the US as consumers to change the world, simply by changing the way we spend our money. Choosing to purchase Fair Trade & Made by Survivor products is a simple, yet powerful way we can make a significant difference in our world!

New PUNJAMMIES!!

So, is it my imagination, or are IPP's PUNJAMMIES just getting better & better??!!

Every time I decide I have enough, they release a few new designs and I need to buy another pair (or two)!

I realize that some of my affection for them is a result of our time spent at IPP's sewing center in Andrah Pradesh, India. I will forever treasure my memories of the precious women who sew them, our afternoon of henna tattoos, the girl's beautiful smiles, the flowers in their long, black hair & their lovely saris...

Yes, I would probably still love my PUNJAMMIES even if they weren't as wonderful as they are, simply because of the amazing story behind them. And my desire to be a part of the story of change & HOPE that is being written by the International Princess Project! But the reality is, they are THE most beautiful & comfortable pants I have ever owned & I get compliments on them wherever I go. (oh, did I forget to mention that I do NOT where mine as pajamas?? ;-)

We have lots of styles & colors, in every size. So let me know if you want to become part of the story too! :)

Introducing Bead for Life!

I am so excited to tell you about our newest partner, Bead for Life.

Bead for Life is a non-profit based out of Colorado, working to change the lives of hundreds of women in Northern Uganda. And from what we can tell, they are doing an amazing job at it!

The women make gorgeous, handcrafted paper beads from recycled paper and then turn them into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Because the women use recycled colorful paper, what was once trash becomes beauty, money, food, and HOPE!

Creating businesses and jobs through entrepreneurial development is a more sustainable approach to poverty eradication than simply providing aid. Rather than becoming dependent on handouts from abroad, the women build their skills and long-term capacities through meaningful, creative work.

In addition to providing a fair trade price which allows the beaders to meet their daily economic needs, Bead for Life also sponsors projects in health, vocational training for impoverished youth, affordable housing, and business development.

Investing 100% of their net profits in community development projects, Bead for Life is part of an international grassroots movement to overcome extreme poverty!

You can learn more about them at their website, www.beadforlife.org.

Our inventory is constantly changing, but we intend to always have an assortment of these beautiful, colorful pieces available. Feel free to contact me if you want to see what is currently available!

Thistle Farms

So, it has been WAY too long since I posted on here. Our trip to India has come and gone, with not a single word about it. And we have added what seems like a zillion new products that you need to hear about. There is so much to write that it seems overwhelming, but "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" right? So...

I will begin by telling you about Thistle Farms, an amazing social enterprise near Nashville for women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction. By hand the women create natural bath and body care products, which smell and feel absolutely fabulous!

We look forward to displaying everything at our upcoming events and are absolutely CERTAIN you will love these products as much as we do. And I am already planning on giving several things to women on my Christmas list this year.

Every purchase directly benefits the women of Thistle Farms and we are so proud to have partnered with them!

And like Thistle Farms, "we believe that love is the most powerful force for change in the world."

Introducing Himalayan Foothills Journals

The newest addition to our growing group of products is a collection of absolutely gorgeous journals, memory books, notepads & stationary sets. Not only are these the perfect place to store your favorite photos or write your thoughts & prayers... they will be making a wonderful Christmas gift for more than one person on my list!

These stationary products are handmade by artisans living in the foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India, from 100% recycled cotton paper. They are produced in a community where women are not allowed to work outside they home, which makes life extremely difficult for families without a male presence. Making these products is dignifying work which the women are able to do at home.

Your purchase of these products provides the women with HOPE in a place where people would otherwise only make a dollar a day.

The best part about these handmade journals are the hands that made them.

Making a Difference in Mumbai

I am so excited to be able to introduce you to iSanctuary & share a little bit about the exciting work they are doing in India.

iSanctuary's vision is expressed by the acronym H.O.P.E.

H - Healing

O - Opportunity

P - Purchase with Purpose

E - Empowerment

Healing: International Sanctuary works to ensure that the girls it serves have access to proper mental, emotional, and spiritual counseling as well as medical treatment.

Opportunity: International Sanctuary exists to provide opportunities for girls to grow, gain restoration, and eventually sustain themselves by earning an income as they reintegrate into society. Opportunity is created through education: literacy, numeracy, and the development of life and vocational skills.

Purchase with Purpose: International Sanctuary offers the world an opportunity to purchase with purpose, to buy unique, progressively-styled handcrafted products, and in so doing help trafficked survivors earn an income with which they can sustain themselves. By creating and selling handmade items, survivors are able to earn a life-giving income.

Empowerment: International Sanctuarys goal is to see trafficked survivors fully restored and reintegrated into society. For this to happen, survivors must be empowered with belief in themselves. Belief that they can truly succeed. The foundation for rehabilitation and reintegration lies in the empowerment that results from self-confidence, self-reliance, and hope for a future filled with possibility.

The jewelry the girls create is lovely. The story behind it even more beautiful!

To learn more about iSanctuary you may visit their website. And feel free to contact me to find out what pieces we currently have available.

In closing, I would like to share a story from their website, to give you a peek into the world of prostitution in India. And to give you HOPE, knowing that organizations like iSanctuary are truly making a difference. *All names are changed to keep anonymity.

In the darkness of Bangladesh a girl slept on the dirt floor of a shack. Poverty is commonplace in developing countries but this is not a story of poverty, its a story about how poverty can lead to some of the most inhumane treatment of people.

As Saheli* slept one night, a neighbor crept into the house and kidnapped her. Rendered unconscious, Saheli awoke in Mumbai, far from her village and her home. As a 12 year old village girl, she was very confused and afraid which led her to trust the one person she knew, her neighbor. He lied and told her that a job had been arranged for her in a restaurant in the city. But Saheli never made it to that restaurant. Instead, she spent the first week in Mumbai being beaten, starved, and raped. Once her spirit was broken, she spent every day and night for the remaining four years as a sex slave for a brothel owner.

Fortunately, Sahelis story doesnt end in a brothel. She was rescued.

Saheli has been in iSanctuarys program for over a year. Though she was hesitant to get involved in the beginning, she has now risen to the top and excelled, proving herself to be a skilled jewelry designer. She has designed several one of a kind, exclusive pieces that are a favorite of many women. Saheli continues to attend school and will hopefully join iSanctuary on a full-time basis when she graduates. She is a young woman with much tenacity. Her bold enthusiasm has made her a natural leader. iSanctuary will be grateful to have her as a leader in the program.