If you haven't been living under a rock, you've probably heard a phrase that goes something like this, "If you teach a man to fish..." It's a simple, but extremely important concept.
Sustainable livelihoods are the number one tool we can use to fight poverty.
Did you know that around the world there are kids living in orphanages who have parents? Their parents send them there because there is nothing to feed them and no work to earn money.
It seems so simple, right? Get these folks a job. But even though artisans and makers around the world produce a excellent products, there isn't a market for those products in those areas.
What we do at Fashion on Mission is leverage the US retail market to create revenue for these individuals and groups. You enjoy beautiful and meaningful handmade products and those profits help lift families and even whole communities out of poverty.
We can teach someone a trade, but it is also key that we rethink how and from where we make purchases. Instead of going to a big box store, why not consider a beautiful 14k gold plated necklace from our women in Southeast Asia?
For example, when you purchase a piece of jewelry from this particular group, women, who might otherwise return to the brothels out of fear or because they have no where else to go, will have dignified work that will shift the trajectory of their lives. Not only do we focus on rescue and uplifting, we also want to sustain these models so that going back to that life is unthinkable.
By creating dignified work, we are putting marginalized people on a path to a successful future.