Trades of Hope

How you can help empower women around the world!

Continuing Fashion Month by sharing a little bit about a company that offers stylish accessories and home decor. Better yet, this company helps ladies around the world to maintain a sustainable business! I asked my Mom, who is a “Compassionate Entrepreneur” for Trades of Hope, to collaborate on this post. Here is Donna’s story about how she became involved with Trades of Hope, and an explanation about how this awesome company works:

Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to help someone in a tangible way, but couldn’t?

You know … when your friend found out her husband cheated on her, or was abused by someone, or robbed, or found out they had a critical illness, or, well, you fill in the blank. In these situations you can empathize with them, pray for them, and help as much as you possibly can, but you can’t FIX it. It just is what it is and you help them walk thru it, but if you’re a “fixer” type like me, the situation leaves you frustrated. You can’t FIX it, you can only help to make it better.

That is how I felt about many of the life situations that my family, friends, and even I found myself in. I wanted to DO something to FIX the situation. The frustration grew as I prayed, “Lord, why do you allow me to hurt and cry over these situations but not give me the resources to FIX it?” And then there is the increase in natural disasters all over the world. SO. MUCH. SUFFERING. SO. MUCH. PAIN. What can I do? How can I help? Sure, I can take the easy route and throw money in a bucket, and hope it gets to the ground level where it is truly needed. But how will I know if it truly helps the needy?

Then I found my answer.

I had always respected the Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” I was taking part in a Facebook event that showed me how I could empower women out of poverty and abusive situations. I was taught how I could FIX their suffering. This solution would allow them to rise above their life circumstances. It would teach women how to be the heroes of their own story by giving them a life-long solution so they could not only feed, shelter, and educate themselves and their families, but it would also allow them to fulfill their dreams.

This answer is found in a company I proudly represent as a Compassionate Entrepreneur. The answer is found in a Fair Trade certified company called Trades of Hope. Trades of Hope purchases beautiful hand-made artisans’ goods, such as jewelry, scarves, bags, and home décor from 18 countries around the world (including the US) and resells them here in the USA thru people like me. Every time I wear a piece of jewelry, I am proud of the fact that I have helped a woman out of poverty. Fair Trade means that she is not working in a sweatshop, and that children are not employed either. It means that the products are made of sustainable materials and environmentally friendly. These women become respected members of their communities and help their friends and neighbors to rise with them.

Mother Teresa said “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Trades of Hope won’t solve all of the problems of the world, but they will FIX the problem of poverty one woman at a time.

How can you be a ripple in this life-changing movement?

The easiest way is to purchase products through my website: www.mytradesofhope.com/donnawhittaker. The next greatest ripple effect would be to host a Trades of Hope Showcase in a Facebook event. But, the greatest ripple would be to join me by becoming a Compassionate Entrepreneur. Together we can rise in a business relationship that will allow women all over the world to rise with us. SHOP – HOST – JOIN. It’s that easy to satisfy your longing to make a difference in this world we live in, while earning an income yourself. Contact me for more information. Text: 732-947-6738. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/donnawhittaker.tradesofhope

More about Trades of Hope

Trades of hope often releases new products. I have several pieces from Trades of Hope, including this lovely gold scarf which is a newer product from the Fall 2017 Line. It is made by Artisans in India.

The Jeweled Necklace is an older, best-selling item that also comes from Artisans in India. You can wear it long or doubled, and it goes with so much!

Trades of Hope also just came out with a line supporting breast cancer awareness. To go shopping, and see it all for yourself, please visit www.mytradesofhope.com/donnawhittaker. You too may be blessed by the stories of how this company is helping women be empowered around the globe!

Thank you for reading!

Jillian and Donna