Helping Women in Haiti Rebuild Their Lives

Please welcome my work friend Jeradina today. She is guest posting on a cause that is near and dear to heart: helping women in Haiti rebuild their lives through an organization called Trades of Hope.

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Monday, January 12th marks the 5th anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. When the disaster struck many of you felt empowered to help in some small way; you probably gave money, donated clothes, shoes etc. Although the country is rebuilding itself, there are still large areas in Haiti affected by abject poverty. There are many companies out there giving aid to the families that are still suffering from the effects of the earthquake.. But still poverty prevails.

Fortunately there are some organizations that help families build sustainable businesses. Trades of Hope is built upon helping women out of poverty.

It’s been proven if you help 1 woman out of poverty, she will bring 4 others out with her.

You’ve heard the saying: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day….teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. What we do is help these women learn how to fish and become the heroes of their own stories. We partner with women (our sisters) around the world living in poverty, in societies that place little or no value on females, women who have been trafficked, battered and abused, many that have had the difficult choice to give up their children for adoption because they couldn’t feed them.

We come alongside these very talented women and we help them create sustainable businesses by teaching them skills to create jewelry, scarves, bags and home décor pieces. Trades of Hope offers them the opportunity to sell their beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted, fair-trade items in the U.S. market. We are not offering them a charity, we are giving them help and hope. Our artisans’ children are now being fed and some are in school, many for the first time. All because mom was empowered to make handmade jewelry such as the Haiti signature bracelet to get money to put her children to school. That is world changing!

We open the door to changing lives by having “Parties with a Purpose” where our hostesses gather a few friends in their home, work place, restaurant, church, or anywhere their friends like to gather. I tell a few of our artisan’s stories (each piece will come with a card also sharing some of the artisan’s story). We have a fashion show with everyone trying on their favorite pieces. Orders are then placed and everyone has a good time. We also do online parties, where people can place orders in the comfort of their own home and at their own time.  Our hostesses receive free products and a percentage off of products for their part in helping us spread the word! Because TOGETHER we can change lives.

I’m also looking for like-minded folks that believe in this idea of help and hope. We are also looking for those who want to join team as World Changers. And of course, we need lots of people, buying, wearing, giving our products as gifts and talking about these beautiful pieces to their friends.  All of us working together to change the world!! It’s a big job (sigh) and we needed need everyone’s help! If you open the door to me and allow me to share Trades of Hope then you will open the door to more opportunities for so many more women around the world.

So Shop, Host or Join me at Trades of Hope.

Leave a comment on what motivates you to help others to win one of these three lovely bracelets:

Haiti Signature                    Oceans                    Pure Love