Let Go +
grow
2022TRADE VISIONFRIDAY OF FAIR Our goal is to take you on a deeper fair trade journey by featuring a different room in the home every month. The room will be highlighted in your Fair Trade Friday box with items appropriate for that room in your house and will also include thematic unity, scripture, and intentional living inspiration with an overall goal of building deeper handmade collections within your home.
LET GO + GROW "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” —Helen Keller Summer is the perfect time to let go. School is out and so is the sun. Summer gives us a little more space to breathe and squeeze in a vacation day or two with its longer days and warm rays. Sometimes you have to let go, so you can grow. We are on-the-go people who rush to work, appointments, and through life. But it’s okay to Stop. Breathe. Rest. You have permission to let go. What if we scratched one thing off our to-do list that we didn’t accomplish? What if we took that personal day, bumped the alarm clock back, sat for an hour without a phone or an agenda? Growth happens in the stillness. We recognize it in the slowness. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 What we do every day matters. “You plant seeds every single day, in the world and in others, with every thought you think and word you speak and action you take. You have influence. You’re making a dent in the universe and you matter, in a very real way.” —Jennifer Williamson It’s our prayer that this month’s Fair Trade Friday makes your everyday decisions a little easier with our stunning everyday brass hoops and Shine brass necklace as a daily fashion staple. They pack nicely in your hand-stitched kantha bag when you’re on the go. We tucked in a refugee-made shower steamer to remind you to let go of the day’s worries with a little self-care. Afterall, you grow through what you go through. So, let go + grow!
Let Go + Grow Kantha Cosmetic Tote
$14
MADE BY ASHA PROJECT IN INDIA
Hammered Hoops
$24
MADE BY FORGED IN HOPE IN KENYA
Shine Necklace
$28
MADE BY FORGED IN HOPE IN KENYA
Jewelry Polishing Cloth
$3
MADE BY HAGERTY IN USA
Lavender Shower Steamer MADE BY REFUGEES LIVING IN USA
$4
Kantha cosmetic tote MADE BY ASHA PROJECT IN INDIA Asha Project is a not-for-profit organization with a passion for teaching women that they are worth more than they may have been brought up to believe. They have skills and abilities despite what their community and culture may tell them, and they have a purpose that only they can fulfill. Asha Project's desire is that they would find HOPE. Hope for change. Hope for a better future. And hope for something new. During the COVID shutdowns, Asha Project realized that one of the gaps was in the production of machine-sewn products. When it came to machine stitching, they had trained and lost so many women because working from home just didn't seem to be filling the needs they had for supporting their families and it wasn't providing the hands-on help and supervision they needed. They had talked and dreamed about starting a small salary-based sewing program that would meet these needs, but they didn't have enough product demand to commit to train and hire the women, or the finances to buy the machines and materials to get started. In August when Asha
Project opened an email about a large order of kantha cosmetic bags from Mercy House Global, they knew God was saying “now is the time.” By early September they had gathered a group of interested women and started eight weeks of training. On November 1, six women showed up for their new, salary-based jobs. In addition to those six new women, one of the leaders was also promoted to a full-time salary supervisor position over the new sewing program, and they were able to hire another full-time leader. But this sewing program does not only impact those eight women. All of their machine-sewn products are made from hand-stitched kantha saree fabric. Six women trained in sewing those products means the demand for that kantha fabric goes way up, and that means the women already stitching kantha fabric get more work... AND Asha Project now has the space to start a whole new community group! In September, in addition to sewing training, they started a new community group where every week 22 women meet, share life, and use
Asha Project
their skills to help support their families. That is eight women on salary, 22 women able to work from home where they can help support their families, and a whole lot of HOPE! And hope changes everything! Your membership in Fair Trade Friday made it possible for this order to go through the hands of 45 women in five communities and created 6800 hours of work! Fair Trade Friday members can use the code FAIRTRADEFRIDAY for 10% off orders at ashaprojectindia.com.
Forged in Hope
Forged in Hope is the newest artisan group supported by Mercy House Global. The group started with an artisan named Stephen who expressed himself through creating jewelry. He established his upcycled brass jewelry business in the heart of Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa. After Stephen died of typhoid, his wife Maureen continued his legacy and grew production volume to ensure ongoing work for the employees. From tragedy, Maureen has built a strong jewelry business, and she has also invested in multiple businesses in Kibera, creating opportunities for others and stimulating economic growth. Before Stephen’s death, Wycliffe worked closely with him for several years as an artisan in the jewelry workshop. Wycliffe quickly rose to a position of leadership to supervise the daily work of the artisans. Through the previous partnership with Karama Collection, Wycliffe was able to learn pricing, team leadership, and quality control. Through his leadership, five additional positions have been added to the business. Mercy House Global is excited to step in and support this talented group of artisans.
Hammered Hoops + SHINE NECKLACE
JEWELRY POLISHING CLOTH
MADE BY FORGED IN HOPE IN KENYA
MADE BY HAGERTY IN THE USA
These gold hoop earrings and 16" Shine necklace are classics that will never go out of style! These pieces work just as well for a dressy night out as they do to jazz up jeans and a tee. Everyone needs these staples in their jewelry line-up. This set from Forged in Hope is made of recycled brass by artisans in Kibera slum in Kenya.
Brass jewelry is durable and will last for many years with proper care. The material will naturally tarnish over time, which gives it its unique, organic appearance. Use your polishing cloth to care for your new pieces. Made of USA-grown cotton and doubletreated with R-22 tarnish preventative, your jewelry polishing cloth is specially designed to quickly and effectively clean, polish, and prevent tarnish on all sterling, silver plate, gold, platinum, brass, and bronze jewelry. The inner white cloth gently and thoroughly cleans and polishes away tarnish, fingerprints, and body oils while also imparting a tarnish resistant barrier. The outer cloth buffs jewelry to a beautiful luster. Does your recycled brass jewelry need a little extra pampering? Restore your recycled brass jewelry to beauty with a lemon bath. In a shallow bowl, combine one capful of lemon juice, one cup of warm water, and one squirt of dish detergent. Soak your jewelry in the solution for one to three minutes, depending on tarnish level. Rinse and dry.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY The United Nations has designated June 20th as World Refugee Day. It’s a day to honor refugees around the globe. We recognize the incredible strength and courage of those who have been forced to flee their home countries to escape war or persecution. World Refugee Day is a time to grow in our understanding and consideration for their refugee experience and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. In recognition of World Refugee Day, we’re including a shower steamer made by Renuka, a refugee from Nepal who resettled in Houston, Texas, five years ago. Renuka is a college student, who lives with her dad and three siblings. She was introduced to Mercy House Global through her Aunt Sancha, who already works with MHG making jewelry and shower scrubs. Renuka is grateful for a creative job that she enjoys doing. Shower steamer should be placed on the shower floor, not directly under the shower stream. Never put a shower steamer in your bath. Use caution around children.
Gift tag stickers Made in the usa
Our Fair Trade Friday boxes now include gift tag stickers for you to use when you share your #happymail.
Ways to share the gift of fair trade 1. Start a gift basket. In a closet, store items you receive but won't use yourself. Place them in your gift basket to share with someone on their special occasion—holiday, birthday, anniversary, etc. 2. Bless a teacher, neighbor, or co-worker. 3. Give generously to someone in need.
FAIR TRADE FRIDAY
a fair trade subscription clu WHAT IS FAIR TRADE? Fairly-traded products are made by artisans who work in safe conditions, are paid a fair wage, and work fair hours. No child gave up his education to produce your new favorite item; no mom was laboring in a sweatshop for 80 hours a week. We ensure that all of our Fair Trade Friday club items are fairly traded. HOW IS FTF DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS? We are not a for–profit company, or even a profit-for-good company — Fair Trade Friday is operated by Mercy House Global, a nonprofit. All profits from FTF directly support our maternal rescue center, Rehema House, in Kenya. You can learn more at mercyhouseglobal.org. FTF PARTNERS WITH FAITH-BASED ARTISAN GROUPS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? While we are a faith-based ministry and partner with other faith-based ministries, religion is not forced upon artisans, nor is it a requirement for employment. Many women & their families have different religions than us, and that is okay. Our belief in Christ calls us to love, serve, and help others, regardless of their personal belief systems. WE HAVE AN APP! Use the code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first in-app purchase! #fairtradefridaybox Android
fair_trade_friday
fairtradefriday
iPhone