Products that Empower Women
Hi Dear reader,
It’s been a while since I shared news with you, would love to share my journey every step of the way, but the truth is, I don’t know where time goes and while I have blogged throughout the years, It seems at some point I always leave gaps in between to enjoy life without having a pressure to write.
Let’s face it, there is so much to read these days…hmm what we choose to read must be something we:
Love
Helps
Learn
Good News
and most important gives you Joy.
Having said that, I feel the same way about writing, I like to share with you our beloved reader only worthy news.
I’m super excited about sharing about our latest collaboration. In 2019, a dear old friend who works with a global organization that empowers children through sports, introduce me to Mary (I change the name due to safety) while traveling in the Middle East. Turns our Mary moved to Turkey several years ago and has been working with refugees to help them through their trauma and supporting them through their transition and adjusting to a new life.
I was connected to Mary, with the hope that I can help in someway with their journey. Mary, who is a retired music teacher, moved to Turkey with her husband, who also works with refugees providing them with prosthetics.
Mary started a music and crafts program for trauma healing, as she got to know these ladies and their stories, she mobilize within her support group and started providing food cards. Seeing the desperate situation they were in, she realize the crafts they were making could be a source of income. Not wasting any time, Mary starting selling the products on their behalf in US, to help them with an income so they can feed their families.
In July 2019, we started chatting and figuring out…What and how can we help these women. After all that is what EL VOYAGE is all about. We help artisans become financially sustainable, so they can provide for their families.
Immediately we decided, we have a platform that sells product to support artisans in remote places. But now the fun part begins, so after 2 years of collaboration, lots of video calls and planning. We have been able to add R.E.I.P. products to EL VOYAGE website.
R.E.I.P (Refugee Economic Impact Program), during these 2 years we help Mary design and implement an infrastructure, logistics, established costing and more so the program becomes a small local business for the women.
R.E.I.P was officially born, so the products they started making as a way for healing, has turned into so much more. I hope you can support them in this voyage to independence by shopping and sharing their story.
The few products that Mary has manage to developed with them have become and instrument of great blessing as they are able to feed their families. Today we are working with 20+ families in this project and the pieces they made are one of kind due to its handcrafted nature.
The collection is small and precious.
The selection offers:
Soaps
Candles
Turkish Textile bags ideal for a day in town
Macrame Runners
Please check the collection and help us continue supporting these women become financially independent.
Full sales minus credit card fees goes back to the R.E.I.P. women and their families.
We hope to Travel in the near future and Connect with the women at a deeper level, and continue sourcing and developing new products to Empower their growth.
with love,
EL VOYAGE
