March 8th is International Women’s Day!

Photo Courtesy of Half the Sky

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Equality for women is progress for all” emphasizes how gender equality, empowerment of women, women’s full enjoyment of human rights and the eradication of poverty are essential to economic and social development. This years theme truly embraces the meaning of Fair Trade, empowering and enriching the lives of those living in poverty around the world.

Many of the women Seven Hopes United helps support are not only the head of the household, but leaders in the community, women creating change to provide a better world now and in the future.

Seven Hopes United helps support:

• Young women in Uganda working toward their college education – to pursue their dreams & create change! To date, with our partners Sseko Designs, we’ve enabled 47 women to continue on to university.
• Women in Cambodia that are in need of healing & are working to rebuild their lives after being victims of sex trafficking. Through our partners Malia Designs and Five Accessories we are helping to provide a life of dignity and respect, as well as the opportunity for a sustainable income.
• Women in India and Bangladesh that have suffered the effects of extreme poverty and sex trafficking, living in the slums. Through our partners ConneXions, we’ve received some of the most beautiful kantha quilts, and we’ve helped provide a better life for hundreds of women through a sustainable fair income.
• Women in the far-reaching parts of the world like Kyrgyzstan – in a part of the world where there are few opportunities for women we’ve helped support small felting businesses that provide food, shelter, and education to their families .

Please join us in watching this short video from Half the Sky, for an excellent example of how women are empowering one another and inspiring change within their communities:

One thing all of these women have in common is that they have overcome poverty through fair trade, by coming together, and they are using the opportunities given to them to provide a better life for their families.

All over the world people on March 8th will celebrate women and their accomplishments for International Women’s Day. We hope that through sharing the stories of the women who inspire us we will also inspire something in YOU. These women are our mothers, daughters, and sisters, and our community’s small business owners, teachers, political leaders, farmers, community health workers, activists, and more.

Please join us in the fight against poverty, hunger, and injustice by empowering our sisters through Seven Hopes United and in your own community.