Violence against girls and women still occurs in staggering proportions. We know that one in three women around the globe will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
In the United States, the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15 and 44 is domestic violence. An estimated 500,000 to 2 million people, mainly girls and women, are trafficked each year. Worldwide we see that the instability and lawlessness of wartime has severe and brutal consequence for girls and women, and their vulnerability to violence.
Full Circle Exchange is an innovative non-profit social enterprise brand dedicated to empowering women and whole communities to rise above poverty through design partnerships and economic opportunities that are sustainable, holistic and dignified. By returning to the very ancient idea of women being the seat of wealth within families and communities, they are creating pathways for trade, to empower women in the fight against poverty. They have become path beaters to create sales channels and opportunities for women artisans working in locations within Africa, Philippines and other countries. Partnering with SPINNA (a unique non profit organization focused on training women in the textiles, fashion and furnishings industry to develop high value products and conduct business at the global, means that our members will have opportunities opened up to them within the lucrative US market and access new ideas for creative selling. As a family business begun by their business savvy mother, they are a company that has women’s interests at the heart of their operations.
Full Circle Exchange is a non profit social enterprise dedicated to empowering women at risk and survivors of human trafficking out of of poverty by creating sustainable economic opportunities. By focusing on poverty reduction through training, job creation, improved incomes, and access to global markets, we believe that, when equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Over a year ago, we had the good fortune to meet two women entrepreneurs from Rwanda, sisters, with incomparable strength, faith, and determination. Having been victims, and now survivors of the Rwandan genocide, their organization of 4,000+ women artisans is a true testament to the power of women to overcome horrendous obstacles and to create new opportunities. Through a collaborative partnership, we have developed a new line of products that meet U.S. consumer trends and utilize the skills, materials and designs that are indigenous to Rwandans.
Look for our new 2013 Spring Collection in the coming months.
This is an invitation to YOU…and we hope you pass this on to to anyone you know and love who wants to be part of something extraordinary.
This is the first of MANY that we will do for the women in MANY parts of the world…so if you can’t do it this time, you will be able to do it next time for sure!
Every day we hear the stories of trials and horrific circumstances faced by women in our own countries and in far away places. Whether these sisters are victims of natural or man-made disasters or even victims of human trafficking, our tender hearts go out to them and we often wish there was something, anything, we could do to help. You know the feeling, right? We ache for them to be set free from their pain, whatever pain that is. In the worst cases, we ache for them to be set free from the situations and beliefs that oppress them…..but often it seems there is nothing we can really do to make a difference.
What if there really was a way to help? What if there was a way to let them know that they are loved…that we are thinking of them, and that they are not alone. What if there was a way for Brave Girls all over the world to come together and do something amazing to bring them comfort and encouragement?
If there really was a way to help, would you accept our invitation? WE SO WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS!
If you’re willing to hear more, then this is going to get exciting!! Please please please watch this short video and you’ll see what we’re talking about
……it’s called the Truth Card Exchange:
The Truth Card Exchange is an important part of a project, a revolution, that we have been working on for a very long time…something that we believe in with all of our hearts. The reason we believe in it is because with ALL OF YOU, we know that as a group we can make an enormous difference in the lives of our brave girl sisters who need it the most.
How the Truth Card Exchanges will work: Over time we will identify different groups of women that we will target for a specific period of time, brave sisters from places all over the world, including right here at home. (We’ll connect with these women through our partnership with Full Circle Exchange, an innovative non-profit social enterprise brand dedicated to empowering women to rise above poverty through design partnerships and economic opportunities that are sustainable, holistic and dignified.)
We will put out a short-term ‘call for Truth Cards’ to be sent to us at the Brave Girl Clubhouse, and then we will pass them on as part of other projects we may be doing for them. We will provide you with a printable ‘kit’ with simple instructions on how to make the cards and how to put your own personal touch on them to make them very personal communications between you and the brave girl who will be receiving them. It’s simple!
What to do next?
Click the links below to learn about our very first TRUTH CARD EXCHANGE we are doing to lift up, support, and love our brave sisters across the world….and how YOU can be involved!
It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s contagious, it will absolutely make a difference, and we hope YOU will be a part of it!
Providing Economic Opportunities for survivors of Human Trafficking
Full Circle Exchange - Melody Ross Collection
The Full Circle Exchange team is so excited about our newest design partnership with U.S. designer and friend Melody Ross. We will be heading off to Manila from January 8 - January 17th as part of our "Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative" for survivors and women at risk who have been trapped in human trafficking. These are our sisters who have been taken as slaves and lived as slaves in the most inhumane and vile of ways, and who have been rescued and now live in safe houses...but who have much healing to do on a soul level. The atrocities of what they have been through are too many to mention, but if you would like to learn more about the worldwide epidemic of human trafficking (modern day slavery) visit polarisproject.org and ijm.org
Melody will be teaching her SOUL RESTORATION curriculum as part of our initiative to the girls in the Hope House as well as providing hands on training and skills to a create a beautiful NEW COLLECTION to empower them economically so they are able to go to college and never feel trapped again.
In 2013 Full Circle Exchange will launch our new line designed by Melody Ross as part of a collaborative effort to create sustainable economic opportunities for women at risk and survivors of human trafficking. The new line will feature handmade eco-friendly inspirational greeting cards with meaningful, journals and other up-cycled accessories for major retail partners throughout the U.S.
The program is part of an unprecedented collaboration between consumers, designers, NGOs, government agencies, filmmakers, private and public foundations and the incredible women on the ground who inspire us everyday. We have solidified formal partnerships with Humanity United, the US State Department, USAid, Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), International Trade Centre (UN), and WeConnect International and are excited to launch this new initiative. Together, we can help restore dignity, bring hope and opportunity to women, families and communities around the globe. It is a way to claim our common humanity, while enjoying products created with love and care.
This is an invitation to YOU…and we hope you pass this on to to anyone you know and love who wants to be part of something extraordinary.
