For the past two years, our hearts have been steadily moved by the people of Nkombo Island. The island is home to nearly 20,000 refugees, displaced after the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It is estimated that over 80% of the island does not have a steady income. Most women are not able to read or write, as less than 25% of children go to school and, of these, almost none finish.
In addition to illiteracy, an issue these women face is the prevalent Congolese culture, which dictates a system where men believe they are kings and women their property. A man takes a woman (as young as 12-15 years old) and builds her a house. She is responsible for conceiving every year, providing all food and income, farming, transporting materials from Kamembe and other forms of manual labor. When these duties are not fulfilled to the man's expectations, the man finds another wife and builds her a house on the same land.
These women are so eager to rise above poverty and their current way of life. When women have the money to buy their own land, they are no longer responsible to the man, and they are free to take their children and leave.
Over the past two years, Hands Producing Hope has been working in Costa Rica, developing relationships with a group of Guaymi Indigenous women in the remote village of Coppey Abajo and learning about their greatest needs. We have developed a program that touches the lives of a community that might not have otherwise experienced respect, dignity and hope for a brighter future:
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We are ready to develop a program on Nkombo Island that will invest in the lives of the women on the island by offering education, employment and life skills workshops that will equip them with the tools necessary to rise above poverty and radically change the lives of these women & their children.
In order to make this happen, we need $20,000 to charter our Rwanda Program. Our goal is to secure funding to:
- employ staff on the ground to personally oversee the program's development
- offer consistent training to a group of women who will be our newest artisans
- provide an allowance that will allow the women to attend training classes with their children instead of working in the fields
- host a variety of life skills workshops to help equip these women
- set aside for scholarships for the women and their children to attend school
- purchase start-up supplies & place an initial order!
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We have partnered with some pretty amazing people and organizations to bring you perks that are solely exclusive to our #HPHGoestoRwanda campaign! Pictured below are our physical product perks -- be sure to check out the full list of perks on the right for both physical product AND experience perks!
$15 - Napkin Set from Salila Rising - Fair Trade
Not only does this perk help us get our Rwanda program off the ground, but you are also empowering young women in India to stop the cycle of poverty and violence they have lived in for so long. These Unique Napkins are made from handwoven cotton that is hand-block printed with vegetable dyes, then hand-cut and stitched into napkins. Set includes 4 napkins!
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$25 - Hand Lettered Prints by Rosalynne Love
Receive two lovely hand lettered prints. Display them side by side or keep one for yourself and give another to a friend!! Who doesn't need a reminder to focus on LOVE above all else? This perk is available by itself and also in the Bronze, Silver, and Gold packages!
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$30 - Hand Lettered Journal -Collaboration with Dot Products
We love products with multiple causes. Not only is this journal made in the USA, but it was made in collaboration with Dot Products, a school supply company changing lives for children in developing country by funding a day of school with every sale! Choose this perk and not only will you be funding education through Dot but you will be empowering a woman in Rwanda, helping her provide for her children and seek a better future for herself and her family! There are adventures to be had each day, pick up this journal and start documenting them!!
About the design: We chose the phrase "And So The Adventure Begins" because it perfectly embodied this next season for Hands Producing Hope. We are stepping out into this grand adventure -- exciting growth happening with our program in Costa Rica PLUS a new country, a new group of women and a new and growing tribe of supporters surrounding us! The mountains represent the stunning mountains in Costa Rica and Rwanda. We are excited you are on this adventure with us.
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$50 - Hand Lettered Flowy T-shirt by Rosalynne Love
Life is always taking us on some sort of adventure! Whether a new place, a new season of life, or a new job -- there are so many ways to find adventure all around you! Our women's flowy v-neck t-shirts are the perfect reminder of the adventure that awaits you each morning when you wake up!
About the design: We chose the phrase "And So The Adventure Begins" because it perfectly embodied this next season for Hands Producing Hope. We are stepping out into this grand adventure -- exciting growth happening with our program in Costa Rica PLUS a new country, a new group of women and a new and growing tribe of supporters surrounding us! The mountains represent the stunning mountains in Costa Rica and Rwanda. We are excited you are on this adventure with us.
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$60 - Exclusive Early Release HPH Necklace
Possibly our favorite design yet and YOU are the first to see and own it! Our Radiance Necklace is handmade in Costa Rica by Yesenia and Xinia from seeds that were hand picked on the mountain sides of their village. The natural beauty of the seeds shine through in this necklace and we hope it is a reminder that you are perfectly and naturally radiant just the way you are.
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$75 - Bronze Package - HPH Necklace and Prints
Receive our exclusive early release Radiance Necklace along with two hand lettered prints! Three perfect Christmas gifts? I think yes.
See above for photos!
$100 - Silver Package - Prints, Journal and T-Shirt!
This is the hand lettered trifecta! Receive our two hand lettered prints, our journal for you to document all of lives adventures, and our flowy T to remind you that every day is an adventure!
See above for photos!
$150 - Gold Package - HPH Necklace, Prints, Journal and T-Shirt!
Can't decide which product you like? Want to knock out Christmas presents for all of your children at once? Get it all with this perk! You will receive our exclusive early release Radiance Necklace, two hand lettered prints, our custom adventure journal from Dot Products, and our "And So The Adventure Begins" shirt from Rosalynne Love!
See above for photos!
$200 - Pen Pal Package
Receive all the items in the Gold Package PLUS one of our artisans will hand-write you a letter to you, which we will then translate and send to you along with a photo of her! That sounds like the best kind of snail mail to us. Keep your letter as a reminder of the impact you have made and will continue to make in her life through your donation.
See above for photos!
$500 - Rwanda Collection Access
Be one of few to receive exclusive updates on the progress and development of our upcoming Rwanda collection. You will have the opportunity to vote on designs and colors, and you will have early access to shop our Rwanda collection once it launches.
Impact: Provide 3 months of salaries for 2 expert basket weavers to offer business and skills training to our artisans.
$1000 - Platinum Package
Receive a curated box of HPH favorites every quarter for a year! We will hand select a variety of HPH favorites along with some limited access colors for you to enjoy!
But that's not it - you will also receive our slouchy "And so the Adventure Begins" shirt, our custom Dot Journal, two 5x7 prints that say "What is Done in Love is Done Well" and "Love More, Worry Less," AND our exclusive early-release necklace. See above for photos!
$5000 - Join us in Costa Rica!
You will have the opportunity to join us on a trip to Costa Rica. Enjoy the beauty of our artisans' village while living out community with our artisans. Get hands-on experience with a social enterprise, help lead workshops and be a part of our impact in Costa Rica. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the country and enjoy a day to simply be a tourist! Perk includes: all in country travel, food, lodging, small excursion and flight from New Orleans to Costa Rica. Trip date to be determined.
$10,000 - Join us in Rwanda!
You will have the opportunity to join us on a trip to Rwanda. We are headed to Rwanda in Summer 2016 to meet with our new artisans and you will get to be a part of that journey! Get hands-on experience with a social enterprise, live out community on Nkombo Island and come back inspired. Perk includes: all in country travel, food, lodging, small excursion, and flight from New Orleans to Rwanda.
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If you are unable to contribute financially, we would still love for you to be involved. Help us spread the word by sharing about our campaign on social media and with your community!
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