Friday, August 12, 2011

BeadForLife: Eradicating Poverty One Bead At A Time

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The gifts that I treasure most are those that are handmade. I love cards crafted by a loved one, a rug made by a local artisan, and fair trade goods. Fair Trade is defined as "an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability." I often seek out products that support the Fair Trade movement.

I was blessed enough to receive a handcrafted recycled paper bangle from BeadForLife. This nonprofit organizations goal is to inspire people to join their "BeadCircle" of connection. The BeadCircle helps women in Uganda to lift themselves out of poverty. Now I would like you to pay attention to that wording. This isn't a project where we throw money at the symptoms. BeadForLife actually gives these women the skills they need to sustain themselves. I am reminded here of the Chinese Proverb, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."


You can help this movement in so many ways. You can host a BeadParty, buy beads, buy fair trade products, take action to call for Universal Primary Education, take action on debt cancellation, support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, support increased, and more effective US funding for development projects around the world, and you can learn about how many global issues are interconnected. I love that BeadForLife not only advocates financially aiding people but also encourages us to become better educated about world poverty.

You can check out BeadForLife on their website, Facebook page, and twitter account to be a part of the BeadCircle. Something else that is pretty awesome is a chance to win a free trip to Africa through their Party to Safari sweepstakes.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a bangle to facilitate my review. I only recommend products that I enjoy and companies that I am proud to work with. All of the opinions in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for linking up for our FL and FF hop. Have a great weekend!

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  2. That's lovely. I shop Fair Trade as much as possible- I love when people care about whom they purchase from.

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  3. Love the bangle. Nice. Please follow back a new follower at http://biguniversesmallworld.blogspot.com.

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  4. Hi Following from the social hop from Barbsbargainbin.

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  5. Bead for Life sounds like a great organization. Thanks for sharing it with us all. That turquoise paper bead bracelet is lovely!

    I am visiting from the Relax and Surf blog hop today. I hope you have a great week.

    Blessings,
    LaVonne @ Long Wait For Isabella

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  6. Thanks for sharing and I love the bracelet. It is gorgeous.

    New follower from the Relax and Surf Blog Hop.

    Liz @ http://allinonemom.co

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  7. New Follower from the Sunday Hop! Hope you stop by and follower back.

    Lori @ http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com/

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  8. Beautiful!! Thanks for joining my Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop!

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  9. I've gotten beads from them and they do have some beautiful ones. I love this organization.

    http://www.blessedelements.com/goinggreen/?p=3322

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  10. Hi!! I'm stopping by and following from the Wednesday Social Buzz. I hope you'll check out my blog Frazzled Mama at http://frazzled-mama.com and follow me back.

    Hope you have a great rest of the week.

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  11. Hi..I hopped over from Helicopter mom's Wed hop. Love the bracelet but I love the meaning even more. You can follow me at http://mamalousgems.blogspot.com/ I am going to pin this out on Pinterest and hopefully it will generate some more followers of the cause!

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