Imagine…. What if you had Ability but no Opportunity?

Here in America we are blessed richly. If we have abilities, talents or special gifts, we have opportunities to use them.

But what if you had ability but no opportunity? What if you were able to sew beautiful clothing, or design lovely jewelry, but no one would buy it or pay you what it was worth because they had no opportunity either?

Child’s backpack made in Guatemala

We are all aware of Fair Trade right? Fair Trade pays what an item is worth, fair trade supports the little guy and not a big corporation, fair trade gives ability the opportunity.

Shades of the world scarf made in India

Trades of Hope is a fair trade company that gives talented artisans an opportunity. These artisans are all women. Women in areas where the only work many of them can hope to get is in the sex trade, selling their bodies just for the essentials of life.  Women who previously had no hope, now have hope and a way to live in safety because of Trades of Hope.

Owl coaster set, made in Mumbai

Artisans who sell their work through Trades of Hope will make 3 to 6 times more than they would selling their items in their own environment.  It is also safer for many of them, especially for those who have been rescued from the slave trade.

Kancu leaf journal set made in Nepal

When you buy from Trades of Hope you are supporting multiple people directly.

•   You support the Compassion Entrepreneur who you are buying directly from, and many times she is a mom seeking a way to help support her family without having to work a regular 9-5 outside of the home.
•   You support the individual artists, giving them 3 to 6 times more for their items than they would make otherwise.
•   You are also helping support the people who live with them. Trades of Hope uses a portion of it’s sales to help the artists and their neighbors. They buy animals, tools and more to help lift the women out of poverty and to empower them.

Freed to fly cross made in Hati

The focus is primarily on women because when you help one woman out of poverty, she brings 4 more with her.

Freed to fly cross made in Hati

A while back I did a review and giveaway on one of the items from Trades of Hope, the bowl I chose still sits on my counter and the words hope on it reminds me to offer hope to others as well.

Bounty of Blues Scarf made in India

I recently contacted the Compassion Entrepreneur and asked her if she would help me have a Trades of Hope party. I wanted to share this company with my readers again, and besides, I love their items. All the photos you’ve seen so far are items from Trades of Hope.

SheSham candle trio made in India

All are beautiful, many useful, and all made by hand by our sisters around the world. I sometimes forget just how blessed I am to live in the country that I live in. No, it’s not perfect, but we are still permitted to worship Christ without fear of imprisonment or some other form of punishment.

Renew soap made in Bangladesh

So, this is your official invitation to join my Trades of Hope party on Facebook and learn more. The party on Facebook is Wednesday night at 7pm est. If you are reading this post after the even has taken place you can still click through and read.

Indian elegance necklace made in India

However, if you are not the type to attend Facebook parties (or you don’t have Facebook) you can still shop my Trades of Hope party by clicking here and going straight to the site.

Sonia striped bag made in India.

And thank you. Thank you for reading this and learning more about ways you can help women all over the world. I do hope you can join the party (after all, the more the merrier!), and I would love it if you were to share this with others too!