Shopping with a purpose

Back to Africa

The Back to Africa (BTA) Project is focused on providing a fair wage to vulnerable widows, orphans, and refugees (our partners) in communities throughout Africa.

I don't know how to choose just one!!  I REALLY love their jewelry! SOOO cute!!

http://backtoafrica.myshopify.com/

I have no idea how to even decide on which one to buy but I have liked this one for a year!!

OH.MY.WORD!! I LOVE this necklace! Too cute!! It comes in blue also...decisions, decisions...

Noonday

Empower the poor with meaningful work while creating a transparent and fun shopping experience for our customers.The Noonday Collection offers fashion forward accessories for you and your home handcrafted by artisans from around the world that receive a living wage for their work. Every item is handcrafted in style, with love, and creates a pathway out of poverty for these artisans. Proceeds also help place orphans in forever families. Through fun trunk shows and an inspired websites, we are helping YOU to become part of the story!

  

http://tesneydavis.noondaycollection.com/

LOVE these journals!!

Open Arms

For cute skirts and scarves visit Open Arms. Handmade Scarves and Skirts from 100% Recycled Materials. Made in the USA by refugee women resettled in Austin, TX! This scarf is just one of the many things on their webiste.

http://www.theopenarmsshop.com/category_s/46.htm

CUTE!! Need I say more??

Headbands for Hope

For every headband purchased, one is given to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick's  Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research. Such CUTE headbands!! They would also make great stocking stuffers!!

http://www.headbandsofhope.org/collections/all

glitter bands

TOMS

One for one. Toms gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy. They have also branched out into apparel and sunglasses. I bought a pair of TOMS heels and I have to say they are the most comfortable heels I have ever worn!! I wore them shopping and traveling (running around airports) and my feet never got sore. They were great! I'm sold on their heels!!

http://www.toms.com/

 Funky Fish

The woman that makes these beautiful creations also volunteers for Project HOPEFUL. Her jewelry helps support great causes. I have three of her necklaces and I love them! Dawn is a GREAT artist and she does SOOO much for Project Hopeful!!   I ALWAYS find something I like!!

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http://www.funkyfishdesigns.com/apps/webstore/

I have this one and I LOVE the story behind the humming bird. You should go and read it.

SSeko 

Sseko Designs uses fashion to provide employment and scholarship opportunities to women pursuing their dreams and overcoming poverty in Uganda. One sandal, endless possibilities! Sseko sandals have unique interchangeable straps that can be tied and styled in hundreds of ways. From a simple slip-on to an intricate woven tie, Sseko sandals can be just as simply classic or stylishly dynamic as you! 

http://ssekodesigns.com/shop/

they also have bags and scarves

so many cute ways to tie your sandals!

Project Hopeful

Every orphaned child hopes for a family and a home. The reality for many children with HIV/AIDS and other special needs is that the chances of having that dream materialize are slim. Time and again, Project HOPEFUL has witnessed that with education, encouragement, and assistance families and individuals can be enabled to advocate for and adopt overlooked children.

What began as a group of mothers on a mission to advocate for their children living abroad with HIV has been developed by God into Project HOPEFUL. Today Project HOPEFUL exists to Help Orphans and Parents Eliminate Further Unnecessary Loss… of time, dignity, and life.

http://projecthopeful.org/store/shop/

(please see the bottom...this year Project Hopeful has a catalog where you can buy things like chickens, mosquito nets, pay a nurses salary...that sort of thing.)

super cute and comfy!!

Mercy for Mamas

http://www.mercyformamas.com/p/shop_3.html

A Mama Kits is an all-in-one kits that contains everything needed to help provide a clean and safe delivery.  In order to give birth in most hospitals or clinics in Uganda, you must purchase all of the necessary supplies and bring them with you.  If you do not have the supplies you will often be turned away.  Many of the women cannot buy the supplies, so they do not seek medical care, which often leads to complications and even death for the mothers and babies.  A simple gift of a $7 kit can allow the women to give birth in a hospital or clinic, or if they must give birth at home they have proper sterile supplies. Research has shown that the gift of a mama kit can greatly reduce the number of women dying during childbirth

Re:New Project

Happily made in the USA, each product is masterfully handcrafted using recycled textiles by a Re:new artisan. Our artisans are courageous refugee women from across the globe who have been resettled in America. When you carry Re:new products, you carry the stories of the remarkable women who sought refuge here.
A friend recommended I check this out this organization and I'm glad she did!! Such cute bags!!

http://www.renewproject.org/collections

I have a little obsession with the color green lately :) Love it!

She Has Hope

She Has Hope rescues and rehabilitates human trafficking victims with the goal of restoring them to a life full of hope. In our shop you will find many hand-crafted products made by the girls of the Peace Gospel International rehabilitation home in Kathmandu, Nepal. These girls, mostly teenagers, are recovering from a life of forced prostitution in Indian brothels. All proceeds go directly toward maintaining their project and their own personal fair trade earnings. We now also feature products from widows, single mothers and destitute women who are finding recovery and financial stability in our crafts business development programs in other developing world nations.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SheHasHopeCrafts

Fashion and Compassion

Vision

The vision of Fashion & Compassion to transform communities through holistic economic empowerment that brings dignity and opportunity to individuals who have been caught in a web of poverty and injustice as they heal spiritually, emotionally & physically.

Mission

Fashion & Compassion connects caring consumers with vulnerable women artisans to bring dignity through economic opportunity.

http://www.fashionandcompassion.com/

Jua Project

Jua Project is ministry that started in Kitale, Kenya as a way to holistically empower women who had no reliable resources to support their families. Jua Project provides employment and basic skills training to help women become self sustaining.
 Children’s homes and orphanages are found everywhere in Kenya.  Some children go into these homes for the simple fact of parents having no way to provide for their basic needs.
 This is a tragedy. 
Mothers are crying out to help them find a way to provide food, clothing and school fees for their children.
 Instead of providing handouts to these women, keeping them dependent on these handouts, we felt that creating a social business model- creating jobs for these ladies and teaching them how to do it outside of our compound – was the way to successfully start bringing families out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

http://juaproject.org/

Orphan Wares

where 100% of proceeds feed the orphans on the streets

http://www.orphanwares.com/

The Batik Boutique

We make a difference in people’s lives by:
    Employing single moms as well as others who are struggling to make ends meet.
    Giving a portion of our proceeds directly to needs in our community.
    Contributing to the practical needs of those around us (see our Facebook page for more)

http://www.thebatikboutique.com/products-page/

Somaly Mam 

The Somaly Mam Foundation is a nonprofit charity committed to ending modern day slavery in North America and around the world. Founded by sexual slavery survivor Somaly Mam, the Foundation works to eradicate human trafficking, liberate its victims, and empower survivors so they can create and sustain lives of dignity. The Foundation supports survivor rescue, shelter, recovery, and empowerment programs globally, with a special focus on Southeast Asia, where the sex trafficking of women and children is a widespread practice.

http://www.empowermentstore.org/

Sasa Designs by the deaf

D.O.O.R. (Deaf Opportunity OutReach) International, has launched Sasa Designs in response to the overwhelming poverty and joblessness among Deaf people in Kenya. 

http://sasadesignsbythedeaf.com/

Starfish Project

Starfish Project was established in 2006 to empower exploited women in Asia. The Project developed a socially responsible jewelry business in order to provide women with alternative employment and a range of holistic care services. Starfish Project provides opportunities for women to heal and grow through counseling, vocational training, language acquisition, family education grants and health care access, as well as providing housing in our women’s shelter. As of 2011, the Project had grown to support approximately 35 women, primarily through the jewelry company where women have taken on new levels of responsibility and leadership, and are able to provide for their families through meaningful employment.

http://www.starfish-project.com/home

They have jewelry for children also. Isn't this cute?

child's necklace

The Market Place

The Marketplace is a Christian fair trade store that celebrates the artisans.

Each product represents a life changing journey from hopelessness to empowerment; from being lost to experiencing the love of Christ. 

Be a part of the transformation.

Empowering people. Changing lives.

http://www.themarketplacenc.com/

Sak Saum

http://saksaum.com/

Tax deductible donations to charities and adoptions

Adoptions: 

Meet Nate and Erika Johnson

Did you know that you could help a child get to their forever family and your donation could be tax deductible? Yes, through some agencies it is!! What a gift of life!!

I met Nate and Erika in Uganda in 2010. They have since adopted a little boy from the same home that Madison is from and now they are trying to bring home this little beauty below. You can read more about it here.

https://www.adopttogether.org/adoptadeline

You can visit their blog here:

http://placeofmercy.blogspot.com/

Project Hopeful matched family list

You can donate to any of the families on the matched family list and it is all tax deductible and it helps bring an child to their forever home.

http://projecthopeful.org/matched-families-2/

Charities: 

Ekisa

http://www.ekisa.org/

 In Uganda, having a disability is often seen as a curse and it is not uncommon for those with disabilities to be shunned by their communities, even their own families. At Ekisa we will create a safe and nurturing home for children with disabilities. We will also work with communities and families in an effort to change negative views toward the disabled.

I would not recommend this place if I had not seen first hand the awesome work they do. The women that started Ekisa really do love these children and provide them a home. I cannot say enough how AWESOME this place is!!! EVERY child is a gift from God and deserves love and a home and these women live that belief daily. Please please please please please consider giving to them.

Amazima

Amazima Ministrieswas founded by Katie Davis in 2008. The 501(c)(3) organization, based out of Franklin, TN, feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda.  We do this through child sponsorship (over 600 children), feeding programs (over 1,200 children each day Monday through Friday), community outreach, medical care, vocational initiatives, and spiritual discipleship.

Tim and I were able to visit her Saturday program and no money either given to Amazima or used to buy their products is wasted. She loves the people in Uganda and she lovingly serves them in so many ways.

http://www.amazimastore.org/ 

Project HOPEFUL

You can buy chickens, a goat, or mosquito nets that could save a life, or pay the salary of a nurse. Give a gift that gives back to those in need. (and is tax deductible!)

http://projecthopeful.org/christmas-with-purpose/