Umbrella

So the girls have been attempting to put all of our Trades of Hope stuff to good use.  This is the Uganda African Coiled Basket.   It sells for $22.00.  The colors are beautiful and oh, so vibrant.  The basket is of a black and an off white color.

Although my children are attempting to use it for an umbrella, I wonder where you would put it or what you would do it with the Africian Coiled Basket?

Because here is what is so neat about this Africian Coiled Basket.  As you walk by this basket in your house or where ever you decide it will be, know that they are designed with banana leaf stem coils.  They are created in Uganda, Africa.  Uganda Crafts is the brandchild behind these baskets as they help disabled people, youth, widowed and those suffering from HIV/AIDS.  THis group is over 85% women.  Trades of Hope have partnered with them to help these people start their own sustainable business. 

Just the beginning

I am a compassion entrepreneur of Trades of Hope.  I am going to be a voice for women.  I am going to be a voice for people that are not able to have a voice.  I am a supporter of fair trade around the globe.  Thanks for checking into the blog.  I hope to update frequently as I become more involved with Trades of Hope.

Train them up

Trades of Hope has brought product from all over the world through Fair Trade.  This Purple Glass Bead Necklace came from India.  Young, unmarried women in remote areas are commonly not allowed to leave their impoverished villages because of such a conservative mindset. If they did decide to leave, they often end up in the sex trade or sweatshops. Now, through Fair Trade, many of these women are empowered to be self-reliant, something that is sometimes unheard of in their villages! By making these handcrafts, they are stepping out from the thinking that women have no value. They are now able to take care of themselves and are respected in their villages. This Purple Glass Bead Necklace is 18.00.

The girls loving on the Purple Glass Beaded Necklace.  Leading by example, I hope that I am empowering my own children to make a difference.  The Silver Wire Bracelet that I have on in the picture and the picture above is from Noah's Ark Mission which is mentioned in this posting.

Scarlett loves the Haitian Cereal Beaded Necklace.  The average Haitian makes $400 a year. Haiti had this century's worst natural disaster, and is home to almost 500,000 orphans. The vast majority of Haiti's "orphans" have not been orphaned by parental deaths, or natural disasters, but by parents who gave them up simply because they could not feed them. The Apparent Project is the, "un-orphanage." It is helping with the orphan crisis by providing the parents with a sustainable business by making cereal box beads. Now these parents are able to keep their children and raise them with dignity!  You can buy the matching bracelet with the necklace too! Your purchase helps parents keep their children.  Necklace = 32.00, Bracelet = 14.00, and they even have ear rings too!!

Willow rockin the Purple Glass Bead Necklace.

The girls love to pose.  You will have to ask them what the difference necklaces mean, at least ask Scarlett, Willow will just mumble what she thinks.

Scarlett wanted one last pose with her American Girl Doll.  The bracelets she has on is for adults but she loves it.  The bracelet is called Spiral Brass Cuff.  It comes from India.  The women at Noah’s Ark Mission are able to work from home, rather than have to work for the many sweatshops that exist in India, which work employees 12-14 hours a day. This allows these women to be at home, spend time with their families and make a fair wage!


  Many in India are unable to read and write, as most cannot afford an education. But Noah’s Ark Mission has started a school for three of the poorest villages in the area and helps provide clean water! Their goal is to train their artisans to own their own business, so that they can provide for their family!  The pictures above also have the Silver Wire Bracelet which comes with a ring, and ear rings.  The set is $32.00.   The Spiral Brass Cuff is $18.00.    

Also, I want to add that I am not endorsing the "American Girl Doll" from this picture, I am not sure how they are made, and maybe I don't want to know.  But instead of my daughter watching random shows that are  encouraged by other media things, she likes these dolls and books.  I enjoy the fact that she likes American Girl Doll's which celebrate girls and all that they can be.