Bajalia

What's in a name?

2011-02-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

Elias Bajalia on his wedding day with
Nijmeh Bajalia (wife) and his mother

The Bajalia name is big part of my story. I spoke of my grandmother in an earlier post but now you need to know that the Bajalia name comes from Elias Bajalia, my maternal grandfather.

The name Bajalia comes from the city where he was born in Palestine that is right near Ramallah. The city is "Beit Jala". "Beit" in arabic means house and "Jala" means glory. It is believed that this city located in close proximity to shepherds field in Bethlehem, was one of the first cities that "saw the glory" of the angels announcing the coming of Christ that Christmas night as told in Luke Chapter 2.

But the real reason I named my company Bajalia is because of my grandfathers love for women. I was raised in a very strict and sometimes backward culture that placed a very high value on male sons, like most of the places I work in today. My grandfather had 5 daughters, and the only son he had died at only a few days old. I watched and heard many of the arab men laugh and joke at his "misfortune". How sad he was that he did not have a son to carry on his name they would jeer. But my grandfather held his head up proudly and would always comment - " I would not trade one of my daughters for a thousand of your sons". This comment came to my memory one day while I was in India and I heard a blessing to a woman "May you be the mother of 100 sons". One of the greatest blessings a woman could be given and I must admit it made me sick.

As I traveled the world with all of the missing women, aborted girls, trafficked girls and violence to women, I remember my grandfather's proud love and acceptance of us women. I also watched as my grandfather was one of the few who did not force any of his daughters to marry against their will which was also rare for that time, he wasn't perfect but his love for us was a great comfort when so many other arab men in my life thought women were second class.

Somewhere deep in my heart that love and compassion took root when so many others, treated me as mere chattel, or even worse, nameless and voiceless.

So now I think of my grandfather often as our company grows and the legacy he now has to his name, as people announce the name Bajalia proudly. It stands for so much, but to me it is a legacy to a man who loved women well and deserves to have his name carried forth in a radical and honoring way. It is interesting that each culture I go to has a similar word or thinks this word is their own. In Hindi I was told this sounds much like a word that means "I am rescued" so our company seems to have a name that resonates with so many.

As we near our full court press launch and HSN launch, my grandfather is no longer with us on this earth but I think of how many people will be hearing that name and wonder about it so I want the story to be told, a man who respected and loved his daughters and granddaughters when so many did not is worthy of this kind of legacy to his name. Wonder who will be laughing at him now, and who knows what a son may have done to his name?

Santa Clause fought human trafficking

2010-12-19T22:45:00.002-05:00

Santa Clause it seems is the original abolitionist! I love that and am reminded of this story and encouraged and hope you are to hear how he fought for women.

The true story begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. So he himself was also an orphan. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Now this is the part of his story that is near and dear to my heart. People tell of how Nicholas knew of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries.

Working in the store yesterday I sold a wall hanging to my friend Glenn for his wife that was a dowry piece, made for an orphan girl by women in a village in Kutch as she had no one to help her prepare her dowry. We had a long conversation about dowries and different traditions in Jewish cultures, arab cultures and other indigenous tribes I am familiar with.

Still today women around the world in many places are considered worthless without a dowry, and in India there are still many brides that are burned when their dowries are not sufficient.

So as I think of Saint Nicholas or Santa Clause as many call him I remember how he loved women well. I also think of the women around the world in need of dowries, and orphans in need of a mothers and fathers love, lets all remember - Yes, Virginia - there is a Santa Clause and sometimes it looks like you and me!

"Women hold up Half the Sky"

2010-10-25T13:02:00.002-04:00

"Bajalia is a wonderful example of exactly the kind of enterprise that taps and unleashes the power and economic potential of women." Sheryll WuDunn co- author of Half the Sky.

I have been in constant communication with Sheryl WuDunn, co author of Half the Sky as we think her book tells the stories of why we do what we do better than anyone else. We needed promotional copies to pass around to our team here and abroad. She is an amazing woman and gave us several things to talk about at our recent HSN meeting including the quote above for us to use. Sheryl also says:

"Half The Sky echoes what Bajalia is doing -- a call to join a movement to create change and make the world a better place -- with specific concrete steps, from starting your own action club to sponsoring young women abroad, fundraising to build schools, helping create new foundations, new women-focused businesses"

Sheryl we couldn’t agree more and love having you on our team and being a part of yours. Thank you too Nicholas Kristoff for continuing to carry the torch keeping global issues up front in the New York Times. You two are truly a power couple!

Great things happen when men and women here and abroad join as a collective force with one voice, We can change the world one entrepreneur at a time.

We are women hear us roar! In numbers too big to Ignore...

Don't worry I won't be asking anyone to do karaoke on stage with me in Dubai, at least not yet.

Pumpkin muffins reminded me of Tata

2010-10-24T12:15:00.000-04:00

I am smelling the first pumpkin muffins of the season cooking in the oven with fresh vanilla from Madagascar. And I am thinking of my amazing grandmother who I called Tata. Her name is Nijmeh, which was Arabic for “star” the neighbors called her Nellie. She passed on in October 2007 at 93 years old. She was on hospice for many, many days as we tried to assure her in every way that we would be fine without her.
Hospice, said that there was no reason she was still with us- to continue to try to talk her and comfort her into her death. I was at her bed side with my aunts and Mother. I read to her from Revelations, she was clutching a crucifix, but still holding on. We told her stories, thanked her for her influence on our life, laughed and cried and still nothing.

I decided I could sit no longer I had to do something. So I headed to the grocery store early one morning and bought the ingredients for pumpkin muffins, came home and began baking. This inspired my aunts to begin to bake too. We made chocolate chip cookies for the visitors, and banana nut bread, while we took turns at her bedside. With the fragrance of baking in the house and the smell of bananas, pumpkins and cookies my Grandmother somehow knew all would be well with us.

My grandmother taught me so much and I was reminded of the number of women in my family line who were change agents we shared stories of her bravery. She was one of the first women in the Ramallah community to come to the US. My grandfather had come 12 years earlier and she waited patiently with my mother who had last seen her father at 10 months. On the boat as it was pulling into Ellis Island my grandmother and mother saw my Grandfather and they rejoiced at the reunion, and began the rest of their families.

We heard stories at her funeral of how many children she mothered during these first years in Jacksonville as she cooked for the whole community of men who had come to the US with their children, while the other women stayed back to hold down the overseas businesses, homes and care for elderly grandparents and great grandparents. One by one as other women made their way through Ellis Island, she was the one that taught them to navigate the new land they were totally unprepared for.
One of my favorite stories my sister Donna reminded us of: “She used to take us on the bus to pay the bills in person downtown and to go shopping. We rode the public bus, and she would count the rows in the bus for us to sit, only the middle, and across the rows if necessary.”

Donna always wanted to sit in the back of the bus, and she said no that was for those darker than us. We never understood why, until as adults we recalled the story. We realized that night at my grandmothers death bed that Nijmeh, didn’t really understand racism, she thought we all sat on the busses by color, and somehow people were color coded! Whites in the front, brown in the middle and blacks in the back! I love the way she just figured things out, I would like to think I have that skill of hers too.

Tata, we still miss you somehow our family is not as bright without your star shining on us. Every time I bake Pumpkin muffins now I think of you! And yes Tata you would be proud of us we are still cooking and baking and feeding our friends, loved ones and even our neighbors!

Debbie Met Mindy and Mindy met Sheryl

2010-10-23T13:04:00.007-04:00

"Debbie met Mindy" was whispered almost with reverence yesterday through out the conference rooms as I kept being moved from place to place to meet with yet another EVP and SVP, Buyers, Fashion directors, TV Creative, etc.
I spent the day yesterday at HSN presenting the Bajalia brand, products for March, producer photos and stories and my story about how it all came to be. Lynn, Lauren Bill, John, Jayme, Katy, some new faces and some were relationships brought deeper into a passion for our products. She must meet so and so , can you stay longer, can you wait for Bill, all things I was happy to do not believing how quickly the Bajalia brand was escalating to the top of HSN. I attended a "Style Out" the first vendor I was told who was ever at one of these internal meetings( but I only stayed for my part) so everyone could hear the stories straight from me.

But my highlight of the day was meeting Mindy Grossman. She is the CEO at HSN and was at Polo and Nike before that. I have been watching her work for years in the industry and so impressed how much a visionary she is and how she has taken every brand and company she works for to the next level with style and class.
I felt a bit embarrassed when I finally met her as she walked in to the conference room where I was set up looking amazing wearing a piece of jewelry I had been coveting on air sold by one of the HSN designers Heidi Dass. I noticed the jewelry before I noticed the face. My bad – but then when I realized who I was talking to was quickly asked to tell Mindy about our line.

She was lovely and very complimentary loving and trying on a few pieces. Listened intently to my quick elevator speech and asked many questions about sustainability . She graciously received her very own copy of Half the Sky a gift from me and Sheryl WuDunn and agreed to read it on the plane to Berlin and email me once she had read it.

Only God knows what will happen next as we move Bajalia to the next level with these two powerhouse women helping and strategizing for women globally.

Yesterday was a very good day, “Mindy met Debbie and Mindy met Sheryl.”

Oh the places you will go! As they say in Dr Seuss

2010-10-08T07:29:00.005-04:00

“Congratulations!  Today is your day.  You’re off to Great Places!  You’re off and away! You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You’re on your own. And you know what you know.”

I have to confess 8 years ago, I know now - I knew very little, yet I was off to great places. I have been in wonder, in awe and in disgust many times simultaneously. And even now climbing this Bajalia mountain, I know a very little more. I think the people that know the most are the amazing wise women I have learned from over the last 12 or so years. 8 years officially after receiving our non-profit status and 4 years before when I was exploring the world, discovering new and scary truths.

These women have been my teachers, my eyes, my ears and my strength, while I tried to give them voice. What a surprise. Some of them have never had a day in school, yet strive to give their children the knowledge of centuries and of generations before them. In oral cultures the stories are passed down, not the books and degrees and somehow they are wiser than we are.
If it weren’t for them I am not sure I would have still been navigating this maze and climbing this mountain, to hear their words, voice their pain. I want to scream to everyone to look their way, yet they are content to whisper.

They are smart, wise, beautiful, and mostly they know what they know and they have their priorities straight being focused on relationships instead of transactions. I want others to see them for who they are! If I never took them an order, they would be content to sit with me over chai, or bread and share with me out of their simple means and love me, sometimes just holding my hand the entire visit and smiling.

I must admit I love that and often feel more at home in their world than in my US and Orlando world where I have to wait sometimes months just to lunch with a good friend or business associate.
I hope over the years I am learning to love better by loving them well. And by receiving their love, maybe loving myself a little more. I am not sure I have the words to tell the tales of all I have learned and all I have met, but I have been drinking from a fire hose, barely able to drink in all of the wisdom from places I may have never have experienced it before Bajalia.
I wanted to share their wisdom and introduce them to you through our blog.

These are people near and far who have kept me on my path and bumped me back when I was moving too far right or left. I am sure I will continue to be surprised as you will, they are not always who we thought they would be. I think sometimes we look at poverty as a financial issue, yet they can see the poverty of spirit, in us. I hope I can connect the very different women at the place of their poverty and we can all be richer for the experience.

And now to finish the words of, the incomparable Dr. Seuss – there is much wisdom here…

Oh! The Places You’ll Go! 
Congratulations!  Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places!  You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
You’ll be on your way up!  You’ll be seeing great sights!  You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.  Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!  Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!  Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?  Yes! You will, indeed! 
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!  So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!  Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting.  So…get on your way!

Bagels, Afghans, and New York

2008-10-12T21:50:00.004-04:00

I am in NY, with Business Women from Afghanistan... and if they can make it there they can make it anywhere...
2 and a half years ago as I was thinking about ways to help women in Afghanistan through an organization I work with and I had an idea. The organization is Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) and I do work through them in Afghanistan- you can read more about them on their website http://bpeace.com/. Their basic belief is "more jobs mean less violence".

The idea was for an apprenticeship for Afghan Women businesses to partner with like industry American businesses to increase cultural awareness and industry knowledge, and this idea I believe was divinely inspired, and now it has come to full fruition. The State department got behind this idea and gave BPeace a grant to recruit, train and bring the business associates here, the program has been going on for a year and a half and this is the first week of the apprenticeship. Businesses also got behind the idea and paid some money to help sponsor the associates coming to the US.

This program was designed by BPeace and we selected twelve Afghan Businesswomen who are currently successful business owners within Afghanistan and we partnered with businesses in their various fields including,
furniture manufacturing, food processing, leather goods manufacturing, radio broadcasting, printing, beekeeping and there is even an Oil Woman (Fuel distribution). Together they employ hundreds of women and impact thousands of individuals.

I have been in New York since last Wednesday with my assistant Melissa ( pictured above) who spent 2.5 years in Afghanistan and she is able to use all of her well earned Dari language skills. Our new friends are so impressed with her and I am too. Our translator says she is the only one of 2 people he has ever met that is American and speaks such good Dari.

And of course I keep hearing the words, "you look Afghan", which has endeared me even more to them. My Salaam Allakoum (greeting), is the same in Arabic and Dari so they all think I must speak Dari too, I know a little but our translator and Melissa are keeping busy. All of the women are required to have some conversational English to be allowed to be part of the program, but that is relative.

So far we have discovered, bagels, revolving doors, The Empire State building, Skype to call home, double decker busses, minutes on cellphones don't last long enough to speak to all of the children, (most Afghan women have between 8-10 children), The Statue of Liberty and they all asked to visit Ground Zero and we went to the St. Paul Memorial, it was quite emotional as they know that is the primary reason they are here and able to even run their businesses. They also learned how to use a gift card. Many retailers donated gift cards for them to be able to shop while in the US. We learned what $150.00 US will buy from the Dress Barn.

The program ends on Oct 27th with a huge Party of course, with the State Department, the US Ambadassor to Afghanistan, the host companies and other VIP's.

Keep watching my blog and in a couple of days and I will post photos of the Business Associates in NY as well as some on their apprenticeships.

Pakistan Eye Candy

2008-04-14T09:02:00.006-04:00

For you textile and embroidery buffs, more eye candy from Pakistan. Hard to believe that mostly illiterate women create these bullion patterns in their homes.

Pakistan Planning

2008-04-14T08:40:00.004-04:00

I had a great time in Pakistan this past week as I discovered new producer groups in Lahore and some absolutely beautiful embroidery called bullion. It looks like chunks of gold and beads elaborately decorated. This couple are the people who started their business to help women who were begging at their Mosque so that they could have jobs and not need to beg. I began design on a new line for high end hotels and event planners. Can't wait to see these designs and develop the rest of the line. We are working on the name of the new line but "incredible" is a great description for now. Here are some photos of the designs in detail and Renee our Bajalia buyer for that region. Renee and I were expecting to have a quick business meeting which wound up to be an all day affair, being invited to their home for lunch and reviewing and photographing all of the samples to begin designing from. I am loving Pakistan already, and we just started this project.

Asian Tour 2008

2008-04-14T08:36:00.002-04:00

I am currently traveling on the continent of Asia visiting four countries- first India, then Pakistan, Thailand and China. The purpose of this trip is to visit the Bajalia production centers and check on progress of our orders as well as to develop new designs for orders for Holiday and spring 2009. Yes I said 2009- we have to work that far ahead now to serve our new wholesale clients and prepare for an upcoming trade show. This is a long trip and as I travel, I am still trying to manage issues in Orlando while being on the road, although I am very blessed to have a great team now to handle many areas I used to have to handle alone, there are still many areas that need my daily attention on both sides of the ocean.

Back in Kutch India

2008-04-14T08:26:00.004-04:00

When I come back to Kutch India I always feel as if I have come home. This is where Bajalia Trading Company first became a reality and where the first seeds were planted. The women here seem like old friends and sisters. I love going into the villages and visiting the producers and looking at their new embroidery designs. I spent part of the afternoon taking photos of the kids and sharing them with them on my digital screen. A very great use of technology. Here are a few photos of the kids and my friends working proudly on the Kutchi Kolthi Bag for our clients.

A field trip to the Silk Fabric Wholesalers

2007-09-13T20:33:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the day looking and buying silk fabric samples. My translator and a buyer went with me to the area of town where all of the fabric wholesalers are. After spending the previous day picking oiut all of the raw leather colors, I was ready to find matching fabrics.
Again we had a fight negotiating the prices as the "foreigner" was there. After explaining I was their designer helping them - again we negotiated what seemed to be a good price for fabric and cut several half meter swatches. So many steps to making new designs and a new line. I visited the workshop where

everyone is going to sew my new product samples and was so impressed that this fair trade handcraft place is so clean, light and the workers happy to see me. I spent the day designing with them and loking at some wallets they were making for a top US designer. What a difference Fair trade makes. We all left at 5:00 pm just like in America, but a very rare thing in China. What beautiful fabrics and colors a great creative inspiration. I can hardley wait to see what I am going to design with these new fabrics.

On the East Coast

2007-09-13T20:14:00.000-04:00

I am on the East Coast of China and I am fascinated at how much like Florida it looks. Alhough I am on the China Sea and Pacific Ocean instead of Atlantic Ocean. Palm trees everywhere and for a while it felt alot like home. I am staying in a hotel near the ocean and I plan to take a walk after breakfast. But last night for dinner I got all too much a reminder of where I was. My dinner choices included : Pork Intestines in Bitter Bamboo Shoots, Local Sea Worm with Assorted Mushrooms, Fish Balls, Chew Chow style, Steamed Fish Head with Sichuan Chili and of course Tortise Shell jelly with syrup. Then I saw it what looked like a safe choice, it was fried fish. But when I asked about it, I was walked over to a huge grouping of fish tanks on the wall to choose my own fish. Prior to that I had been admiring the fish as I thought that was part of the interior design of the restaurant, or maybe pet fish but never thought I would choose my live dinner. I didn't even recognize soem of the things in tanks as fish. I couldn't bear to choose a fish for the kill and lost my appetite after reading al of the choices so I setteled on a salad and some chinese rice I had had before. The only girl in the whole hotel who spoke english took my order with 4 helpers. They were all so fascinated that she could talk to me they all wanted in on the action. Yes, Dorothy I am not in Florida anymore, but what I would give for some good Hummos or Salsa about now.

Buying Findings

2007-09-12T23:54:00.001-04:00

I never knew how difficult it would be when I asked to go to the wholesale market to buy jewelry findings. What would have taken an hour or so in the US took about 4 or more hours. I had two of the associates on the jewelry project take me to the wholesaler to buy some jade beads, cloisenee, chinese coins and silver pieces so that we could use the same items available here in China to design some samples in the US for duplication. Well as soon as the wholesalers saw me with the girls the price went way up. The girls spent what felt like an eternity at each place explaining that the findings were not for me they were for them and I was teaching them what to make. They bartered and bartered and finally got the price they were used to. Then they picked through each bead and piece I bought so that they would be sure they were the best quality. Finally we got the right price , the best beads and I was on my way to the next appointment, beads and baubles in hand. I was so impressed with the business mentality and negotiating skills of the associates. These women were not going to be taken advantage of and no one was going to cheat them or me in any way. A far cry from the life they had before where they were pawns in others games. Their progress is astounding, and I am proud to be representing their jewelry line and helping with designs.

The Volunteers Say Their Goodbyes

2007-09-12T23:44:00.000-04:00

I spent last night and the morning helping get the volunteers off back to Bejing and then on to the US. So many goodbyes and words being exchanged to express in our bad mandarin what our hearts were feeling as we visited our friends one last time. We had a meeting so I could get fedback from what they saw and there were too many observations to list. One friend expressed "how comfortable we are in America and how she never realized it, but would appreciate her life even more" another committed to having a couple of sales to help us further our work.

Others were marveling at "how big a diffference a little money makes in the right hands". Others wept over the stories they heard of the amazing brave and courageous people we encountered. Others made friends they will not soon forget. But all of these volunteers had a life changing experience and only time wil tell what they will do about that. My hope is that our time with them was an investment and will grow and be multiplied and they and their family and friends as they tell their stories wil be forever changed. How awesome to be able to have our work make such an impact in lives here in China and back inthe US too. Sustainable, Empowering, Change- I love these words, it is not a marketing slogan it is reality.

A bit of Tuscany in China

2007-09-12T22:12:00.000-04:00

My friend Steve took us on a tour of his olive groves. Steve is from Singapore and spent time down under, hence the Aussie hat- and now lives in China. Not sure exactly how many languages he speaks but definitely more than I do. They have just started producing the first crop of olives after 3 years which is one year earlier than expected. This project is reaching out to the minority people in the mountainous areas in China. The Yi and the Lisu are all being employed on the farm that also produces, Broccoli, Asparagus, Tomatoes and Hissup.

Children are being educated, jobs created and so many friendships are being developed, true communities as peole work together and play together. We so enjoyed our time there, this photo was taken from what wil be the coffeeshop and cafe that wil serve some of the foods of the area. Maybe the next time I am in China I can drink coffee while enjoying this view.It took almost two hours to climb u the mountain in our large van but fresh olive oil would be so worth it.

A Mothers Hug

2007-09-09T05:21:00.000-04:00

What if your mother sold you into a brothel at the age of 13? What if you were raped and since your virginity was now stolen you decided the only thing to do was to marry your rapist to save face ? What if you had to run away from a violently abusive man and had no one to turn to? What if you were living on the streets and the only way to get a roof over your head was from a Madam who owed a brothel? What if you were taken from your family's village into the city with the promise of a job

to help your family only to find out that you are now living in a brothel and your virginity is being auctioned off to the highest bidder? What if your husband sent you out to work in a brothel ad held your children with your mother-in-law as hostages? Many of the women we are working with have been violated and oppressed in every way possible and do not know a simple mothers hug. Oh-but they do now. With so many mothers and a grandmother on this trip we spent many an afternoon after making jewelry hearing their stories and loving them with a mothers hug. What a joy to be a blessing in this way. Many cleansing tears were shed and we will be forever changed by meeting these amazing strong and brave women.

Recruiting new Bajalia Co-Workers

2007-09-09T05:11:00.000-04:00

One of our volunteers on this trip has been volunteering by recruiting new Bajalia staff. Lisa is a professional recruiter and when I met her at an event in February she asked how she could help us. We get hundreds of inquiries a year of people who want to join our work around the world and I cannot possible follow up with them all. Lisa was a trouper to call over 50 people in the last few months as a followup, but now she says she will really know how to talk to them with passion, as she has seen our work first hand. Thanks to Lisa and many others we are being multiplied which is a huge need as the projects that need marketing and business help seems to be endless.

Homeless Antiques

2007-09-09T04:33:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to explain all of the work being done with the homeless here. We love working with those projects being done among the forgotten or those considered to be useless to society. The homeless are being given jobs refinishing furniture pieces taken out of the trash as a and trained in furniture refinishing, working in cafes, and coffeeshops. They are also being educated in schools, provided health care and being restored from trash to treasure just as the furniture is. Ok I have to admit I did have to support this project through a purchase, but I was not alone. Several of these treasures will be our carry ons.

Fairest of them all

2007-09-09T04:27:00.002-04:00

Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest fo them all- We are! This is our passion and goal for all of our groups. It is about people and not profits. We are doing more than is expected of us. Literacy training is happening, so people can count their money – schools are being started. Fresh water is available and people are being trained in medical health issues. Transformation is evident and it would include returning our profits to include community transformation. A woman’s program in the village teaching literacy, A children’s school, orphanages, medical and health training all would be possibilities as we work to help the community. These projects we are visiting in this place fall under this area.

Its So Not Fair

2007-09-09T04:27:00.001-04:00

This is the minimum for a group that does not yet qualify as the standard guideline for Fair Trade. We find that the poorest people in the world have no money to motivate a market. These are groups that may not have the finances to get the fair trade logo, or know how to do all of the paperwork necessary. They may be a remote tribe that may not even have their language written. Literacy may be an issue here and we work to look at the group knowing they can become sustainable with our help. We work with these groups because they are doing work we admire and with our help and consulting we can educate and train them to get to the next level. By becoming a customer for these groups our buying power can foster the change and improved standards. This group may not be culturally aware, there may not be a school in the village so children are in work situations with their families, however never exploited. These are groups that may not have the finances to get the fair trade logo, or know how to do all of the paperwork necessary. They may be a remote tribe that may not even have their language written. Literacy may be an issue here and we work to look at the group knowing they can become sustainable with our help. Many of our groups fall in this level and don’t even know they are not being fair. They are following cultural norms and we work hard to see that the cultural issues are part of the plan of action we have for them to keep the indigenous cultural craft alive along with the languages, etc. They are being moved towards the next level.

Fair is Fair

2007-09-09T04:21:00.000-04:00

What is Fair? These groups we are visiting follow the global standard for Fair Trade,We think this is great and we choose where appropriate to work with suppliers in this category. However the Fair trade guidelines were developed almost 25 yaears ago and our world has become so much worse. Although this is the standard globally we don’t think this is the place to stop. This is the bar we want all of our groups to exceed, but getting to this bar is a requirement and in each business plan we work with groups to get to this place and then we ask the question- How can we do more?

Workshop of the Deaf

2007-09-09T04:04:00.001-04:00

Learning sign language in Chinese while in the workshop. Here we are learning one of the most important words of all "thank you" Gratitude goes a long way in crossing cultures.

Here Marie, one of our volunteers who has two deaf children in their 20's in the US found her place. She Wanted to stay there working with these beautiful girls. She asked me if she could come please come back. Well of course, we definitely see so much need and joy in this place. I couldn't help but think how each one of the volunteers and donors who came on this trip each were able to serve in a special way.

Over 30 people cut and sew in this great workshop where fair trade is practiced. More than fair is what their life is like and we can see it in their faces. No sweat shop here, they have such a drive and love for their work.

Development for the deaf

2007-09-07T20:37:00.000-04:00

One of my highlights not only of this trip, but of this year has been the visit to work in this city dealing with the deaf. The population of deaf here is around 20,000 and in China an estimated 70 million. This is due to an antibiotic given to children in a strong dosage causing many to become deaf as children. We visited their workshop where they made beautiul items from chinese silks and are so excited about the potential of increasing their sales significantly through export. So far they have only sold iems locally. They are in a great building and have alot of room for more people to work here. I worked on getting fabric samples, reviewing their production, qualiy control and learning a bit of Chinese sign language in the process. Of course I had 13 others with me all learning sign, visiting with the workers and then on to their small store to purchase their products. We definitely made an impact on their monthly sales, at exactly the right time. They had been concerned about sales but we were happy to make our dent in the economy here and support the project with our purchases. As we left they all waved good bye and I was moved to tears.

The Lure of Makeup

2007-09-06T20:28:00.000-04:00

Many people ask how we make friends with women in the brothels and other "shops". We are not ashamed to say we lure them with makeup from America and makeovers. We had a full day doing art therapy while waiting for makeover appointments and these beautiful women became even more precious once they saw themselves in our eyes. Once we build relationships and they start seeing themselves differently they are more ready to dream of a future outside of that lifestyle. It is a process, but we were so encouraged by the strong and courageous women we met.

More sights at the shelter

2007-09-05T19:29:00.001-04:00

Shopping for Jewelry

Empowering through Jewelry training

Hugging babies

Girls just gotta have fun

2007-09-05T19:07:00.000-04:00

After working and making jewelry, shopping and traveling girls will be girls. The women we work with have never been allowed to just be children or teenagers so these breaks during the day make for a time of laughing, playing and restoration through dance therapy. We taught them line dances and they taught us some tribal dances and Chinese dances. What a great way to end a full day of working. We also did hair and tomorrow makeup after an afternoon of jewelry design.

China Dolls

2007-09-05T18:06:00.000-04:00

Traveling with a team of volunteers is like being with 13 of your best friends, who weep alot. Actually there is alot of everything magnified...crying, laughing, dancing, shopping and talking. The horrors I work with everyday are being seen in a different way by all of the volunteers we have in China at this time. We can't talk about where we are as China does not recognize that human trafficking exists and strives to keep their image professional in the shadow of the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. They would like the world to believe the women we work with are invisible, but we know otherwise. They would also like us to believe that opportunity is more a focus than the poverty in the villages. I guess the reality even in America we would like to pretend many of these same issues are not there. We are working here with some amazing modern day heroes who are commited to each and every girl they rescue from the streets.

Bejing Bound

2007-09-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

I am now in Bejing with a group of volunteers to work with several of our projects dealing with womens issues. When working in the area of poverty alleviation, the symptoms of that problem are to many to count. In China over 6 million women are involved in prostitution due to human trafficking and lack of educaton. We heard stories of girls being sent into prostitution to pay for their brother to get through school. Husbands sending their wives into prostiturion and holding their children as hostages and one girl even being put in a pot of boiling water to kill her, but since she survived she was told that she was strong enough to be allowed to live but could never be anything but a prostitute, by her own mother. The sights and sounds of Bejing and the other towns we are heading to are frought with the despair of these womena and also the hope we see as they work in the businessed we are helping to develop.

The Tai People and Culture

2007-09-05T17:59:00.000-04:00

I love the Thai People, what a beautiful, peaceful presence they had as they helped us drove us, served us, and showed us their work. Did you know that the Thai people Bathe 3 times a day? We were probably considered a bit less than well kept, with our once a day showers. Of course while riding an elephant one day we got caught in the rain, but I am sure that doesn’t count as a second shower, especially since the elephants sprayed us regularly. Ok we did take 2 showers that day.

Spot Light District

2007-09-05T17:57:00.000-04:00

The Sot light district was obvious as we walked through the entertainment part of the world and that in itself was heartbreaking and troubling. In Chang Mai as well as Bangkok the horrors of Human trafficking were evident. We even learned that when many of the factories closed due to the attention laced on sweatshops a few years ago more and more women had to turn to prostitution, Those empty factories sit there and wait empty- could there be more jobs could be created to help? Questions we as a team are asking ourselves as we seek out our role in Thailand.

Volunteering Abroad

2007-09-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

Volunteering to go on a trip with Bajalia means a lot of things, you could be line dancing, or teaching art or dance therapy. Helping shop all of the local markets for new products of visiting our producers for encouragement and developing of products. We were thrilled to have a group of 10 people from Orlando Florida travel to ChangMai on our last trip to understand Bajalias work better and look for opportunities where they could become partners in the lives of some of our friends overseas. This team did all of the above.

Trapped in Thailand

2007-09-05T17:55:00.000-04:00

I wish I could show you each and every face that we met in Thailand. All of the beautiful young women taken out of horrific situations including, child bondage human trafficking, working for a madam with up to 10 customers a night, being made to get drunk to calm the sobbs of the young women. But in order to honor them and their restoration we are trying to show you the work of their hands…Trust us they are beautiful. Their new life at the center that educates them, finds them jobs and does skill and sewing training at their home is the only normalacy many of these girls have had. All the Bajalia volunteers who visited with me saw that they are amazing and we were left changed by the experiences. We played, we danced, we rejoiced, we cried and we trained in Jewelry trends to help them increase their production so that we could help build up the capacity to help even more. But I can show you some of the sights and sounds and a few of the smiles mixed in. Thanland has such promise and so much need but the have a great King so hope fills the air.

Haiti in May

2007-06-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

My schedule has been a bit insane and I am way behind on my blog. I had an opportunity to go with a Florida Association of Volunteers for Carribean Action to Aytai aka Haiti. FAVA/CA's aim is to improve social and economic conditions in the Carribean region through training and technical assistance. They are a great match for our work around the world and with our office now located in Florida I am definitely looking for work nearby to help train the Bajalia teams heading for work in the far corners of the world. Haiti's pride has been dented by decades of poverty, environmental degradation, violence, instability and dictatorship which have left it as the poorest nation in the Americas. With it only being 600 miles from the US that is such a horror. Democratic rule was restored in 2006, two years after a violent revolt ousted former leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide; bitter political divisions persist, and the scars of the country were there, but I was encouraged by the Men and Women I met and the progress being made. This was my 3rd trip to Haiti in the last two and a half years. I went to a art expose in Port-au-Prince of Femmes en Democratie, Women in Production. There were more than a hundred Haitian women entrepreneurs who displayed products at the Karibe Convention Center in Petion Ville. The expo entitled "Creations Couleurs Saveurs Creoles", designed to promote women doing business in Haiti, increased visibility of their products while providing a marketplace. Daniel St. Lot, was y hostess and the president of Femmes en Democratie, former Minister of Economy and Tourism, ran for mayor of Petion Ville, and has a consulting business. She was the coordinator of the 2007 Women in Production exposition. I was asked to help judge the best in catagory for the individual booths and made many new friends in Haiti and at FAVA/CA. I was very impressed by the Haitian design and display among the vendors. The huge wealth gap between the impoverished Creole-speaking black majority and the French-speaking minority, 1% of whom own nearly half the country's wealth, was very obvious in the show. But change comes one sale a a time.

Istalif Pottery

2007-03-11T00:31:00.000-05:00

Traditional Istalif ceramics are a vibrant blue, a color reputedly made from lapis lazuli, which is found in abundance in Afghanistan. Today ceramists also use a green color made from copper, brown made from the powder found inside batteries, and yellow made from the ash that forms after burning a local plant. Afinal layer of glaze is added before firing.Istalif will of course take time. With no electricity in the village, each stage from kicking the pottery wheel to grinding the glazes and colors to stoking the kiln with wood – requires pure physical labor.

A Windy Uphill Climb to Istalif

2007-03-10T10:35:00.000-05:00

As we climed further and further into the mountains outside of Kabul we finally reached Istalif. We all fell in love with the beautiful area and mountain village. Istalif, an hour's drive north of Kabul, sits in the heart of the broad, fertile Shomali Plain, once considered the breadbasket of Afghanistan. The village, formerly surrounded by lush orchards, was home to a bazaar with 1,000 merchants.Istalif managed to survive Afghanistan's war with the Soviet Union. But when the Taliban arrived, the Shomali Plain turned into the front lines. By 1999, the Taliban forced hundreds of thousands of people from the region and destroyed their farms, shops and homes. Now, in the wake of the Taliban's collapse, the villagers -- along with record numbers of refugees around Afghanistan -- are starting to return, hoping to rebuild what was lost. The village is inhabited by the Tajik people. They are famous for rugs, pottery and embroidery, but first we visited a medical clinic where over 100 people are seen a day. The clinic is making a huge differeence in this village.

A Real Friend

2007-03-09T00:35:00.000-05:00

"A real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness" Afghan Proverb

Afghan Proverb

2007-03-09T00:28:00.000-05:00

There are so many Afghan proverbs and it creats such a beautiful way of communicating in this culture. If I tell someone that have a nice dress they tell me my eyes are beautiful for seeing the beauty. We have been looking up different proverbs for my teaching with the self help groups as we explain principals of working together, working slowly instead of quickly etc. One of my favorite Proverbs that reminds me of my family, friends and donors in the US is "My dear friend in a distant country, Your face is fading, your name is keeping me alive" pashto proverb A beautiful way to say I miss you and am so grateful for your partnership.

My Afghan Brother

2007-03-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

This is Wakil, my Afghan brother. He has made our stay here extremely productive and really knows how to get things done.

We so appreciate his hospitality and spirit of service.

Womans Day

2007-03-08T07:37:00.000-05:00

As we headed home in a military convoy to the guest house we were staying in we were assured that the Women would be waiting. Today is Womens' day in Afghanistan and it is a holiday. All of the employees of Sozo International were invited to the house for lunch along with all of our friends from the distribution, probably near 80 people in all. We were greeted with a feast and I was able to tell stories about a couple of inspiring women I had read about and encouraged the group of men and women.

The soldiers thought that I was Afghan, until I spoke to them in English and they found out I was from the States. Michael was talking to an Afghan man who insisted I was Afghan and said he could not believe it that I was not. I am really more and more confortable with the dress and headcoverings and it must show. We all had a great time at lunch and the military convoy left safely, with a promise for us to visit the Camp on Sunday. Womens day is an opportunity for men and businesses to encourage women and tell them how important they are to the future of Afghanistan. We gave gifts to all of the women who were employed at our guesthouse and made them feel special on this day. They were all dressed up and really honored and respected by the speakers and others in the group. When the soldiers asked to take a photo with the women they began to giggle as we took the photo.

Safe or Not?

2007-03-08T07:26:00.000-05:00

We sure felt safe with all of the M16's around but we know that is not always the case.

Afghanistan's Street Children

2007-03-08T07:16:00.000-05:00

The street children in Afghanistan are a huge percentage of kids that need to work to help their widow mothers and families. As we distributed books and toiletries they were so appreciative and smiling with great joy. Some were confused too as to what was happening and walked through the line without receiving a package. Jennifer and others walked them back through the line to help then next time around.

Helping the US Military with Distribution in Afghanistan

2007-03-08T06:12:00.000-05:00

One advantage of working with local NGO's doing economic development is we often get to visit schools and other development work. Partly because they love to show us their other work and it is a big part of our research as we get a good Idea of how different groups here work, and what combinations of work are the most successful. Today we had a great time as a team meeting up with Sozo International and the US Military. Our team handed our school supplies to teachers and gifts of coloring books, toys and school supplies to 465 street children who are peddlers on the street and could not go to school without this opportunity and special school set up for them. It was awesome to hand out the gifts sent by Americans from all over and even our Canadian team members enjoyed their time there. We really felt blessed to be a blessing. Of course we were gaurded tehe whole time and no one could come on the street while we were inside. The military timed the entire event and were keeping clock. The entire distribution took less than 45 minutes, so they could leave before enemies knew they were there. We were definitely reminded we were in a post war situation. We then invited the soldiers home for lunch to celebrate Womans Day.

Bajalia Team meets Kabul Carpets

2007-03-08T01:09:00.000-05:00

Learning all about the carpet process in DeshaBarchi.

Carpet Weavers in DeshaBarchi

2007-03-08T00:58:00.000-05:00

Visiting homes of Carpet Weavers

Designing Kabul Carpets

2007-03-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

Rastagar Carpets is the local business that I have been doing some design work for. The Bajalia team took a tour of the facilities and went into some of the carpet weavers homes. The work they are doing by including social work and fair trade principals into the rug trade here is a great effort towards uplifting the Hazara weavers. Many of these weavers learned to weave generations ago and others learned while they were refugees in Iran and Pakistan. I embarassed myself while looking at the finished carpets and asked who designed a particular one I found to be quite extroadinary. The reply was "you did, on your last trip here". Their execution of the design and colors were remarkable and I really wanted to bring this one home with me. Jennifer even got into the design and color process as she helped pick out things that woudl appeal to a younger generation. We will be headed back there to tour more weavers homes and design more carpets.

Behind the door

2007-03-07T10:56:00.000-05:00

I can almost create a gallary show of all of the images I have of kids peering at me and the team from behind the door. These are a few of my favorites.

More behind the door

2007-03-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hazara children in DeshaBarchi

More than mud

2007-03-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

Jennifer stepping very carefully out of the car. See how deeply stuck the car is-it took several men a couple of hours to get the car out after the ice broke and we fell in the sewer.

Embroidery Skills Search

2007-03-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

We interviewed several self help groups to discover their embroidery skills and those of the other women in their groups. I, Debbie, took samples from others here in Afghanistan as well as antique textiles I purchased from Chicken Street to show them. The women all looked very closely at the samples and told us which ones they knew how to do. They were really studying each piece as they talked among themselves. As I was introduced to one group I was amazed at how grateful they were that I was here. They kept saying Takashur , thank you in Dari, over and over again while they pointed to their eyes and holding their hands over their hearts wishing me blessings in my work. Even with my limited Dari I was touched to the point of tears. Our translator explained to me all they said I was so honored and privileged to be sitting on the floor in Afghanistan with this group of women to see all that they were doing to empower themselves and each other.

Self Help Groups

2007-03-07T09:45:00.000-05:00

Our visits to the Self help group in DeshaBarchi today proved to be quite eye opening for our Bajalia team. We added a couple, who met us here in Afghanistan from Canada, Megan and Peter who are looking to work longterm with Bajalia. So our team of 5 tracked through the mud after our car got very stuck in ditch/sewer. Michael and Peter along with our driver and many men from the village helped get it out while the women hiked the muddy alleys (streets) to arrive at our meeting place. The self help groups take place in a home of one of the members and they each brought their dues of 20 afghani, roughly 56 cents. They had recently increased their dues from 10 afghanis, or 28 cents. It sounds like such a small amount but we learned that these women were making each other loans from the dues and there was 100% payback since it was their money. There had been several businesses started and some women had even borrowed for their husbands and sons businesses. We were impressed with the amazing work of the NGO we were working with, ORA International. ORA stands for Orphans, Refugees and AID.We were there to talk about the women starting additional businesses for handcrafts and embroideries. We brainstormed ways to bring these groups more economic development since the structure is already in place.

BPeace

2007-03-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

We visited the RKAT store this morning. The first cooperative store in Afghanistan that was started by Afghan women who are associates of Business Council for Peace. We were asked to look at the visual merchandising and maybe do a little work in that area if needed. But the store looked great. Some of the Bpeace associates came to Afghanistan in December to help open the store and space plan for best visual effect. It was interesting to see how much the associates have learned, and how they are committed to the store and working together. This is a culture where everyone is very private about business matters only sharing a small bit with their immediate family, so doing a cooperative store and knowing each others business is a huge step towards progress. We were working with women yesterday who are even afraid to ask their husbands about their own businesses as it causes family problems. So this one RKAT store is a sign of what could be possible. This is a photo of the store and Laila the program manager for the Bpeace work here in Afghanistan waiting on Megan with the Bajalia team.

The Hazara

2007-03-07T08:53:00.000-05:00

Our work here so far seems to be focused on the Hazara people, who are the minority people group here in Afghanistan. The DNA testing has proven that they are direct decendents of Gingis Khan who came through here and killed many Afghans in some citys’ over 200,000 people. We heard of a Mongolian girl who was working with a group here who is helping them, her NGO in Mongolia wants to send people everywhere that that Gingis Khan went to repair the damage that he did through community development. An awesome goal and what a way to restore and repair. We have some work among the Pashtun but they are more the working class and business people. We have a meeting this morning with some of the business contacts I have made with Afghan businesswomen.

Snowy day in Kabul City

2007-03-07T08:38:00.000-05:00

We thought the snow would be over by the time we got to Kabul, wishful thinking I know. The first two days here our schedule was altered because of the snowy mornings. We took these photos from the rooftop of our guesthouse of the snowcapped mountains that circle the city. Unfortunately as the snow is melting there is so much mud we have to hike through to make our destinations into a Hazara village, and even during a shopping trip on Chcken Street. We found the snow covered mountain tops are breathtaking. Everywhere we drove we could see them almost like Colorado. The good thing is the cold makes us not mind the head-coverings and actually are grateful for it. Even the men on our team are beginning to cover their heads.

Exporting Youth and Energy

2007-03-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

My age has become very obvious to me in India during this trip. I am travelling with two twenty-somethings. Michael Shipe and Jennifer Reeves. We work all day in the villages, ride long disty bumpy roads, visit with tribal leaders and elders and work with artisans on products, production, etc...and do business over breakfast, lunch and dinner... yet they still they have the energy to go out to a 9:00pm "Bollywood" movie. I very vaguely remember that time. But seeing our Bajalia work and working with our Artisans from their perspective has been energizing, enlightening and exciting. When I am on the field I get to do what I do best, and I can see their heart for this work. I think mobilizing more twenty somethings for this work will be one of the most important tasks I do for BTC and the artisans as we go into the future, and if they are anything like Michael and Jennifer we will be in very good and capable hands. They are two amazing people and each have their gifts and will be a huge asset to our work. Michael has had several opportunities to use his MBA in International business and I see the Indian partners light up and receive him with authority when I tell them of his studies. That goes very far here as few people in the Non-profit world have this type of education, and it is so very needed. And Jennfer has an awesome eye and her creativity is astounding. She really has a talent for retail and knowing what she likes and loves the villages. I sent her out to interview tribal leaders of a new village we are planning to work in and she did an amazing on camera interview and met with artisans, leaders etc. Her "Walmart" family ties (dad and grandmother) would be oh so proud of her. She did comment at our lunch yesterday as we visited a retail store that one of the NGO's opened and began discussing retail space, rental, store design and average ticket that it was like Thanksgiving with her family with Indian curry added.

Reviving and Preserving

2007-03-01T06:11:00.000-05:00

As a design team, one of our goals is to help India preserve her native designs. As a business team, we want to teach Indians how to utilize the fair trade market in order to revive their communities. We’ve seen a beautiful marriage of these two goals through the interacting with a few, key Indian designers. Yesterday we met with Mena and Pankaj, the founders of Qasab and Khamir, organizations that have a vision for Kutch that will help Bajalia achieve the goals for the artisans and villages. We were able to pick up some of the merchandise we ordered during our last visit to India. We also spent some time with new designs for purses and tapestries. Just like our village visits encourage our work, creative brainstorming time with incredibly talented Indian designers reminds us why we do what we do.

A Typical Indian Day

2007-03-01T06:10:00.000-05:00

What an oxymoron! “Typical” isn’t a word we could ever use to describe India! Our days as a business team are packed full (in no particular order!) with village visits, shopping, school visits, leadership meetings, strategizing, encouraging nationals, designing, and dreaming. We have visited three schools, about half a dozen villages, several suppliers, and also a few retailers around the city. Visiting the schools was such a refreshment! The children in this area just have a way of brightening the soul. Our new team members, Michael and Jennifer, have very much enjoyed the afternoons with the children, playing tag, blowing bubbles, and encouraging the like-minded teachers. Knowing our work in these villages helps the children makes every bead of sweat from the dusty heat worth it. Our team was also introduced to a new village with a beautiful potential. We’re exploring the idea of starting a small project in this village, whose infrastructure and self-motivation is prize-worthy. We feel like we could learn just as much from the cooperation of the villagers, and from their desire to better themselves and their village, as they could learn from our economic development training. We have been incredibly blessed with a devoted Indian man, and see great things coming from his daily presence in this area.

Fresh Perspective

2007-03-01T06:08:00.000-05:00

The words “Rabari” and “Kutch” held little meaning to me less than two weeks ago. I knew the suitcase of purses that sits in my closet must have come from India, and that the purses had such names, but that was mainly because the suitcase smelled like curry, and the tags said “Rabari” and “Kutchi” on them. But, I had no idea what the hands looked like that intricately and joyfully stitched each mirror into place. After spending many days in the villages around Gandidam, I can now say that I have a greater and more intimate connection with the artisans. And that makes all the difference. I know why, now, they use the mirrors and the brightly colored thread and the buttons. I know more than that, though. I know the woman’s face, and the face of her sons, for whom she makes the dowry bag. And I now have a picture in my mind’s eye of what her village looks like, with its winding alleys and wandering cows and shoe-less, bright-eyed children. I look forward to returning to the states to describe her life to our supporters, and to tell her story. And I look forward to returning to visit her, and see her new designs, and encourage her by telling her purse is all the rave in the U.S.

–jennifer

Ironic India

2007-03-01T06:05:00.000-05:00

We finally, finally have internet access! For the past two weeks in India we’ve been bargaining, bartering, begging, petitioning, and pleading for an Internet connection. Only yesterday were we able to connect to a wireless connection in our hotel. Our accommodations are quite nice here in the hotel, as service and hospitality are integral in Indian culture; and yesterday we were allowed access to the infamous “Third Floor.” The Third Floor is the business level of our hotel, and the management allowed us a bit of office space and connection to their wireless internet. Securing a cell phone SIM card was also a bit of a problem. Thankfully, we have an amazing Bajalia teammate here helping us out. Rajan Pillai has a beautiful servant’s heart and has smoothed out many of the potholes on our trek for technology, as well as transportation and cross-cultural lessons. Here’s the irony in it all: when we have a technological problem in the U.S. we call a help line, and are forwarded on to an out-sourced Indian call center; but, when we have technological glitch IN India, we’re like lost sheep!

On the Road Again

2007-02-17T17:34:00.001-05:00

I am headed out again. Blogging at the Orlando Airport with Michael and Jennifer makes me feel like quite the techno buff. I spent the week at a conference inspiring the 20-30 generation into social action and had so many inquiries and possible new team mates. Yeah!! I learned so much and became even more convicted about my organization and this mission I have embarked on. I am hopefull others became motivated about the Bajalia work in hearing the stories of the artisans and the field work from Susanne, Michael, and Jennifer . I am a bit tired and am so looking forward to sleeping all the way to Frankfurt and then we wil meet up with some of our donors adn volunteers who are coming from Dallas to meet us there for the next leg to India. This shoule be a great trip of reviewing where we have been, and planning for the future in Kutchi working with the tribals there. I look forward to you taking this trip with us and seeing first hand that this is not something that can bve done without alot of help, finances, wisdom and of course, blood, sweat and tears. The India leg of the trip will end March 3rd as we head to Afghanistan and set up our work with the partners in Kabul. It will be hot and humid in India and cold with snow still on the ground in Kabul. Not very easy to pack for this trip, especially with the new luggage requirements of 50lbs for international. Anyway here we go, keep us in mind as we head out.

Last post from Africa

2006-09-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

We are posting our last message to the blog while in Africa. Back in Nairobi leaving for our international flight to Dubai within the next few hours. We are all packed which was no small feat, since we are all taking much more luggage that we brought. We sent some back with Skip already. Many of our new treasures will be seen in our sales coming up later this month. We are looking to schedule more sales for November and early December. Looks like October is pretty packed. We have many new Christmas card designs and will be developing new products from some of the samples. Including some cosmetic bags using fabric from Constance sewn by the women of Avega. So much to do as we begin re-entry but would love to talk to you about having a sale in your area.

Small to Medium Enterprise

2006-09-10T05:33:00.000-04:00

Much of our time in Rwanda was spent with the small to medium size enterprise. This is a sector that is just growing as is the middle class in Rwanda. We visited Charlotte, who has a clothing boutique and hair salon. Languida has a funeral business. And Pierette and Peggy who run a freight forwarding company. We talked to Pierette and Peggy about consolidating our shipments in the region including items coming from Kampala.

Kigali Arts and Crafts

2006-09-10T05:10:00.000-04:00

This is Constance displaying her tie and dye. We bought several samples to develop some products using these fabrics. Her eye for color and design is great. Constance is a widow and a single parent. Her husband, who died two years ago, was an artist, as is she and 4 out of 5 of her children. Her shop was in the Kigali artists cooperative complex. Being the sharp business woman that she is, she immediately began discussing my talk about merchandising and space allocation showing me around her shop and telling me what items were the most profitable for her and where she was wasting space. She definitely was listening in the training and was already moving things around. Her passion and desire is to open a womens' cooperative, training them to use this dye process, and she already owns the plot of land and was telling me about her 100 day plan and her success map. We enjoyed seeing her jewelry designs and paper beads made into jewelry. She wants to teach street children a skill and assist to get them off of the street. We talked about vegetable dyes and different dying techniques. We had several ideas for her cooperative that we are taking back to her mentor in the US. These women are amazing and inspiring. They are planning a dinner for us tonight, which we are looking forward to. We couldn't visit each business but hope to next visit.

The Geonicide Memorial in Kigali

2006-09-10T04:54:00.000-04:00

We had another full day, visiting BPeace associates in their places of businesses and photographing them at work. Then off to the Geonocide Memorial to pay our respects to the victims and people of Rwanda. It was something we felt we really needed to do. We saw very graphic displays of video, photography and mass graves. We were all forever changed by what we saw and read and wept with our friends here as we remembered how the world looked away. All of Rwanda was impacted by this crisis of evil. There is no other way to describe what we saw other than evil and humanity at its absoloute worst. There are those that think man is basically good-if they saw what we saw that idea would be forever shattered. We saw coffins stacked in mass graves and photos of children and adults massacred. Rwanda each year beginning in April until July 3 remembers for 100 days the geonicide and the country has learned forgiveness and reconcilliation in ways I could have never imagined. This was the safest country we had ever witnessed here in Africa. At dinner we heard stories of women who married into families that killed their parents. We heard of children taken in and being raised by those that murdered their parents. Mothers that took in the children of those that killed their own kids and are raising them as their own. And the widows the many,many widows we could not believe what we saw.

The New Hopeful Rwanda

2006-09-07T16:59:00.000-04:00

We are having a hard time imagining such horror in a city so beautiful. The French influence gives Rwanda a refined air and it’s very clean. A refreshing change from other places we have visited. The city sits on many hills, part of the “milles collines” or thousand hills that Rwanda claims, so the view is spectacular from anywhere. And there is a real sense of reconciliation and healing that most here say is only because of God. Our day was spent with the Rwanda Bpeace Associates. A sharp group of women who have a variety of businesses from salons and party stores, to cleaning service and supplies, freight forwarding and funeral services. This was their regular monthly meeting we were so fortunate to be part of. Debbie taught a session on merchandising and space allocation based on profitability which prompted many questions, ideas and creative interaction. Susanne taught on customer service, focusing on being a servant leader; being an example to employees as well as to the customers. She stressed relationship and following up after the sale, or when new merchandise prompts a followup call. Dinner found us at the Hotel Mille Collines, most well known from the movie Hotel Rwanda. Again it was hard to picture the struggles that took place in what is now a 5 star accommodation. Time does seem to heal, but the scars do not disappear.

Genocide - Old Rwanda

2006-09-07T16:55:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago, nearly a million Rwandans died in just 100 days when Hutu tribesmen began a campaign of genocide against members of the Tutsi tribe. Rwanda's population is now 56% women, half of them widows. As many as 60% of the women may have AIDS. In the face of such despair,and lost families rebuilding seems a daunting task. We can feel the sense of loss yet at the same time hope is in the air.

Uganda - The Pearl of Africa

2006-09-07T16:34:00.000-04:00

From the desert of Turkana we land in Uganda, just over an hour a way, which is lush with vegetation. Of course we could not go directly we had to go back to Nairobi and fly back up. Then a 3 hour drive brought us to Jinja, a town famous for being at the source of the River Nile. Our time was fruitful during meetings with 5 women’s self help groups. Mama, who they refer to as the leader of this NGO continues with her heart to help improve the lives of women. She along with a minimal staff has founded 100 of these self help groups, along with other creative enterprise including chicken farming. She has facilitated new schools being built and now focuses on a shelter for women. It’s exciting to see the women light up when they hear new ideas like taking their weaving and turning it into belts, or new styles of purses. Or using the paper beads that they make into necklaces, to accent the purses and baskets. They are not only using reeds and banana fiber but recycled bags, too! The creativity is encouraging and with simple changes and suggestions, the women begin to share their own ideas. And when Debbie pulled out the computer to show some designs and products, it really created quite a stir.
On our way to the villages we stopped by the source of the Nile. Our big sightseeing adventure.

Ordinary Women Extroadinary Missions

2006-09-07T16:28:00.000-04:00

During our first morning in Lodwar we met Elizabeth and her husband Fritz, from Germany. They have been working with the orphans and local children on several levels. Elizabeth soon found, that daily, people were at the gate of her home needing food and help, mostly women. So she challenged them that she would not give out food without getting something in return. Now they come every week with their baskets. Many sizes, shapes and colors that they carefully weave under large shade trees. Elizabeth soon decided that instead of food she would give out money for them to buy their own food. We encouraged Elizabeth and helped with design ideas and opportunities for the women to begin learning the business for themselves. Then we stopped for lunch with some friends. Ally showed us the beautiful cards she is hand painting and decorating along with necklaces, bracelets that include natural seeds, beads and wooden animals. Also she is making beaded key chains. This is helping her to reach the youth in the area with practical skills and opportunities for future sustainability.

More of Turkanaland

2006-09-07T16:13:00.000-04:00

Turkanaland

2006-09-07T15:55:00.000-04:00

This dry, arid, desert region sits between the borders of Sudan and northern Uganda. From the air it is an endless landscape devoid of civilization until you look closely and see the small thatched huts dotting the landscape. On the ground in Lodwar we find a bustling town of 50,000 that is becoming a business center crossroads, with goods and natural resources coming out of Sudan. Just outside of town you are now in the “bush”. This is the Africa you see in National Geographic. And yet we found a man who has a solar panel outside his hut which is about 5 feet in circumference. Looking inside, he had a radio, light and, yes, a computer! Days are spent herding sheep, donkeys and camels or working in the community garden outreach. Susanne once again is obsessed with the camels, as well as the people.

Turkana bound

2006-09-01T14:37:00.000-04:00

We are flying to the Turkana region which is up next to the border of Sudan. This will limit our ability to post to the blog, but we’ll have great pictures and stories to share as soon as we can. We will be there for two days then back to Nairobi for our commercial flight to Uganda.

More Maasai moments

2006-09-01T14:06:00.000-04:00

A long road through the Serengetti

2006-09-01T13:47:00.000-04:00

We headed two hours outside Nairobi south east to visit a Maasai village. This village was a pilot project for literacy training. The older women begged for training so they could read a book they were given for themselves. Usually women of this age were not trained in this way, but the desire and determination of this group was amazing. Carol and Emily from AlARM who conducted the program escorted us and it was worth the drive. We were greeted with hugs and kisses from each and every woman. We then were welcomed with a proper Maasai song and dance. They also started a cooperative beading business and impressed us by telling us the prices of the pieces that they had made and actually counting out the change for us. At one time I was told there was not enough money to make change so of course, I bought one more item to make the money balance. Carol had an order that she had to explain to the women for bracelets, which is the first commercial order this group has had. We promised I would go back and design a couple of pieces and email the ALARM office with an order for bracelets and a belt soon. We tried on baubles and were so sorry to be leaving. We had to drag Susanne to the jeep. She is really ready to stay.

Kibera Slum Nairobi

2006-09-01T13:20:00.000-04:00

We started our morning on African time all meeting and leaving our hotel for a quick visit to Kibera slum. We have been selling cards from this project for a couple of years and this was our chance for Susanne and others to check it out. We sang, laughed and shopped as well as encouraged the workers. Here you see them making cards, including making the handmade paper. The Christmas cards were ready for our order so we will be bringing those home with us. Kibera slum is the largest slum in the world, and in one small part of it lives are being changed one card at a time.

Carnivore

2006-09-01T13:10:00.000-04:00

Our first night inNairobi was spent having a true African experience. Skip is enjoying the game meat, including ostrich, crocodile, zebra, beef and many other treats. All day Thursday we spent in meetings planning our time here so it was good to have this down time.

The fort next to the old British Embassy

2006-09-01T12:30:00.000-04:00

This was the address we were given to get to Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Just like most the addresses here. Go past the bombed out building, turn past the well, etc. Every time we heard directions we had to laugh, which bombed out building, what well? The effects of the war are still so evident, but ever so often we see a rose garden or beautiful restoration projects such as these. This group is helping revive the ancient arts of woodworking, Herat glass, Calligraphy. Restoring the old tile work and many other projects including restoration of the old Islamic art pieces. President Karzi and Prince Charles are co-presidents of this group. We had tea with Carey an intern from Southern California who is here working on this project and the CEO Rory Stewart. We will keep in touch as our embroidery projects get to the place of documentation and resurgence.

Self help model

2006-08-31T11:40:00.000-04:00

In many areas of the world we work in, we use a similar model to the one being used by ORA International. Women coming together in small groups and electing two to represent them in a cluster association and then forming committees and teams to eventually form an association. This way women have a greater voice together than apart. We visited two different cluster groups representing about 18 groups each. Many arrived in burquas. These groups are part of the 45 groups that have been developed representing about 800 family units and almost 4500 individuals. On this morning one of the facilitators was talking about having been beaten by her husband because she is working with the women. We noticed that her speech indicated her jaw had probably been broken in an earlier beating and set without medical treatment. We were angered, but know this model is a slow but sure way to empower even though outside interference could get her and others killed. These women were determined to keep coming and keep working towards a common goal. This was the day I was taking a survey of their skills and abilities to begin the economic portion of the training. They were so excited about seeing what I had purchased from the marketplace and other artisans and many of them have the same skills. I asked sach of them to pick up the product that I brought that most represents the work that they know how to do. They were all so excited as they shared with each other and me and curiously investigated the wares. The next step is in two weeks they are to bring back a sample of the item they said they could make or any other items from their groups to be photographed and emailed to me. This is the part where we begin to talk about starting businesses and quality. A very long process but oh so worth it when I see how excited they are and how hope is in their eyes.

Rastagar Carpets

2006-08-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

Bringing Economic opportunity to the Hazara people. We visited carpet weavers in their homes and learned all about vegetable dye techniques and hand spun wool. I designed my first of what will soon be many carpets and taught about trends in design and colors. We also spent much time talking about logistics and transportation of carpets out of Kabul to the US. We all were amazed and impressed by those who had done so much on this project in the first year and look forward to a continued partnership working to improve livelihoods and income to the Hasara carpet weavers. We also talked about computer programs capable of designing rugs, marketing plans and art supplies needed there. My only regret is that I didn't bring a rug home with me. They were amazing, but I probably should unpack boxes in Orlando first.

Our Time in Kabul

2006-08-31T10:48:00.000-04:00

Our time in Kabul was so full. Appointments up to the last minute even on the way to the airport. We were fortunate to be able to keep our very American work schedule on Afghanistan time. Many laughed at all we tried to fit in but in some miraculous way it all worked, including a few unplanned appointments like meeting with a family over breakfast that I had been emailing for two years. When we discovered over breakfast we knew each other via email we knew we were supposed to meet at this time. This family was in another region of central asia and had recently relocated to Afghanistan. Carolyn went with us to several trainings as an observer. The photos here are from our last two days, maybe photos are worth a thousand works, as it is becomming harder to describe how fortunate we feel to be allowed to have had the privilege to meet so many amazing people and participate in their lives in this way. One night before we left I had a last appointment at my guest house with someone from Rastagar Carpets. It was 10:00 PM, he asked me if I was exhausted, from our day as he was a part of a couple of appointments. My immediate response was "NO- this is what I was made to do". Being in the US focusing on operating and organization and fundraising...now that is exhausting. The delight I feel from being able to do what I was made to do humbles me and blesses me.

Burqua Recycled

2006-08-30T01:25:00.000-04:00

We have seen many ideas to recycle the burquas. Including these Christmas ornaments. We also saw a burqua scare crow, dresses made from burquas and of course many women are still required by husbands and families to wear them. Some also wear them by choice such as coeds on their way to Kabul University, to keep the gawkers at bay.

A new shop

2006-08-27T13:30:00.000-04:00

We visited Bpeace associate Nasima's new shop near Chicken Street, a large, popular shopping area in Kabul. Her silk scarves and beautifully dressed mannequins invite onlookers to see what's inside. All the designs are Nasima's creation and she then works with many ladies to create the completed product. She has a wonderful eye for fashion and Debbie shared many samples, magazines, and ideas. With each new piece Nasima lit up and you could see her creative juices flowing. Susanne, again, played model for sizing and fit. Her favorite gift we brought her was the much needed chalk pencil.

Caring for the littlest in Kabul

2006-08-27T13:14:00.000-04:00

Now that more and more women are joining the workforce, daycare has become a real issue for many families. Habiba started one of the first private daycares in the city which has grown to 29 children in just 3 months. We were able to visit with the children who welcomed us in english and then sang us a song. Habiba has 2 professional teachers that work with the children. We were able to brainstorm some ideas for increasing the number of children to bring in more income, like having an open house, inviting the neighborhood, or starting an after school program for latch key kids. Habiba recently did some promotion with fliers and television. She has a real heart for the children and several families a week are inquiring about her program.

Threads of Hope

2006-08-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

It was such a delight to get to visit the Threads of Hope project for the first time in Mazar-e-Sharif. We have been working with this group long distance for a couple of years and Megan from our office in Dallas went to live and work with this group full time. Megan returned to the US and got married this week, Congrats Megan- you are so missed and loved here. The work that she and others have put into this project is evident by the progress of the widows, and they have learned so much. This project was started to give a livelihood to the widows in this region. In just two years, the project has grown and it's no longer necessary for foreigners to be part of the daily operations. We were greeted with the production team in the sewing room and then had a design meeting in the shop that was opened recently. As I walked around the production room and saw their design boards I was so aware of the care and planning they were putting into their line of cards etc. They showed me three belt samples that I had ordered earlier this year and they had made lovely bags for each. We worked on the sizing and several other things and I placed an immediate order for holiday and winter and they had a special surprise for me, look what they made made from a burqua, Christmas ornaments!

Silk Weaving

2006-08-26T12:52:00.000-04:00

While in Mazar we went to what seemed a remote village, but was actually just on the outskirts of town. We saw silk being prepared. Dyed in a caldron and before being woven. We were able to purchase some local silk fabric. Our guide and business woman - Nooria, has forty plus families who are weaving silk, just as this family is, and is helping to revive the traditional Afghan silk making. The raw fiber is brought here from Herat and the rest of the process happens in Mazar and then silk is sold all over Afghanistan. Nooria shared stories about her underground business during the Taliban during which she had more than one tenacious encounter with them. She told us of one time they came after her and she donned a burqua and pretended to be the housekeeper, escaping from any situation with them. She is an amazing woman and is the head of the a group of Afghan Business Women in the north which totals more than 300.

The Raousa - Shrine

2006-08-26T12:26:00.000-04:00

Mazar is a city built on a graveyard. The word Mazar actually means tomb. They have one of the most holy places in Afghanistan. It was an amazing piece of art work and tile work, but felt very dismal and desparate as the child beggars, handicapped and poor surrounded the place. I discovered the most aggressive beggars I have discovered anywhere in the world. One woman would not let me close my door to the taxi, and others grabbed at us in very freaky ways so we could not wait to get out of the crowds. We did visit the bazaar to see what the local Mazar handcrafts looked like, but our main purpose here was to meet with Threads of Hope, a widows exporting business.

Trip to Mazar-e-Sharif

2006-08-26T12:05:00.000-04:00

We headed out on Wednesday to visit Mazar in the north. It took an hour by plane flying over the mountains in a small Beachcraft plane. It would take a full day driving back through the mountains. As we landed we looked around us to pure wilderness everywhere. Flat, brown and not very industrialized. We immediately knew that those who were telling us that Kabul is not the real Afghanistan must have been truth tellers. In Kabul we still see women in burqas in Mazar we rarely saw a woman and there was no one we saw not in a burqa. The more conservative north made me wonder if there was any progress there at all. We were very covered up and still people gawked at us. Don't get me wrong we definitely made people stare in Kabul as in Mazar and the glares of the men made Susanne and I feel like we wanted to don a burqa. Laila told us that 95% of the Afghan men are bad and the other 5% are still not good. I understood her statement more than ever.

Inspiration comes in many forms

2006-08-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

Could this hat Bakhtnazera is holding be inspiration for a new handbag design?

Field Trip

2006-08-26T11:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes to explain a point we need to take a fieldtrip. That was true today when we were talking about antique fabrics and traditional vs trendy designs. I was asking to reproduce some of the old embroidery designs into some new handbag designs to we took a trip to Hoessain's carpet shop. We reviewed old embroidery designs and here Bakhtnazera, Laila and Susanne are studying the patterns we liked most.

Bakhtnazera another jewel

2006-08-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

When we first met Bakhtnazera, she was living in a 3-room apartment with 14 others, and had been earning $50/month teaching part-time. Bpeace helped her apply for a program with CARE, and Bakhtnazera now runs a ready-to-wear shop in Kabul, supervising a workshop of 30 widows. She has been able to move her family into an apartment of their own. She is one of Afghanistan's "fast runner" businesswomen we want to encourage. We believe in expanding the skills of top-tier Afghan businesswomen like Bakhtnazera, because they are in the best position to hire others. A year later Bakhtnazera and her husband, Hanagha, were seen in their shop bursting with pride of ownership and accomplishment. This picture reinforces the powerful work that is being done in Afghanistan." Today, volunteers continue to mentor Bakhtnazera, and are helping her expand into the home décor market to take advantage of the construction boom in Kabul. This is my first time to see Bakhtnazera since meeting her in NY two summers ago. She has been studying english 6 days a week and her communication has improved greatly. This will help her excel in this culture as well as help her with her US mentors and vendors who are beginning to place orders. She also mentioned to us that she has joined the Afghan Business Womans Association and will be at
an Exibition this Sunday which we will visit. She also was active on the team to obtain sponsors and funding for the exhibition.

Pantone 101

2006-08-26T09:39:00.000-04:00

As we were looking at products and talking about products, I asked to see the Pantone book. It was quickly retrieved and our discussion continued. THANK YOU Pantone for the awesome donation to BPeace. The associates are really learning to use it and I had them show me each color as they were telling me what they thought would look good on the samples I was reviewing.

Visit to Rahima's home

2006-08-26T02:25:00.001-04:00

All of the Bpeace associates are near and dear to my heart, and Rahima is yet another success story. She owns her own business making infant and adult bedding that is sold locally as a trousseau for a new bride or anyone interested in redecorating a bedroom. She also has been managing a government daycare. And in her spare time she was elected to Parliament. She is one of a few women who won a seat in the last election. Recently she was asked by the government to give up one of her government jobs so she chose to remain in Parliament and focus on improving her business, including clothing and accessories to her line. She and Susanne really hit it off and you can see them hugging here. She also wanted us to return for lunch and go with her to the meeting of Parliament on Saturday, but with our schedule being already so full, some things have to wait.

Product development and sample review

2006-08-26T02:02:00.000-04:00

Off to a visit with Bakhtnazera , Suria and Rahima, three Bpeace associates, as we headed over to a shop owned by Bakhtnazera we were greeted by Laila and Suria, a few minutes into our arrival. Suria has a crochet company exporting products to the US and has a contract with US retailers greeted us with an invitation to her daughters wedding which would be Wednesday night. We were already scheduled to fly to Mazar and that flight only happens a few times a week, and we had already scheduled a meeting with the widows on Thursday. We were so disappointed Susanne and I were really ready for a party Afghan style. Maybe next time. Debbie is reviewing new product samples for inspiring the asociates with ideas. She also gave them chalk pencils so that they would be able to use them on fabrics to draw designs instead of the pen and ink that is traditionally used here. A lesson that has been taught many, many times here unfortunately. We looked at samples we brought from India, magazines we brought from the US and patterns. We ordered a few samples to review when we return from Mazar.

More Jobs Mean Less Violence

2006-08-22T09:20:00.000-04:00

Our first full day in Afghanistan was very very full. We began our morning at the Business Council for Peace ,Bpeace, office, with Laila Ahmadzai, our program director in Afghanistan. We partner on the ground with other partners to further our mission and accomplish our work more effectively. BPeace is one such alliance. In 2002, a year after 9/11, a group of American business people asked themselves what they could do to give peace a chance. This question led to the formation of the non-profit Bpeace (Business Council for Peace). The idea was to help women in post-conflict countries build sustainable businesses. The strategy and logic were simple: more jobs mean less violence. Bpeace volunteers set their sights on Afghanistan and traveled there to find women who had operated covert businesses under the Taliban and were emerging as Afghanistan’s new entrepreneurs. The Afghan women who produced this product received pay in accordance with Fair Trade practices, and part of the profit helps women in Bpeace programs grow and prosper, benefiting their families while creating more jobs in their communities. Susanne is a BPeace member on the Rwanda team and Debbie is on the Executive Council and Co-Chair of the Product Marketing team as well as active on the Afghanistan team. I am so impressed with the accociates progress since the Style Road Trip in New York. We had an awesome reunion with Habiba at the B Peace office who was so excited that she got her passport. She has been accepted to a mini MBA program at Thunderbird. She also was sharing about her daycare which is growing to now have 29 kids.

Chaila - An oasis in the valley

2006-08-20T07:31:00.000-04:00

We have found an oasis in this barren land. We spent part of our first day in Kabul at Chaila. Chiala is Dari for arbor. This is an amazing coffee house recently opened by an American. Real Lattes...real hamburgers, smoothies, tuna fish sandwiches and muffins. It’s a huge place with a courtyard and entire backyard with tables and chairs. Susanne was most excited about seeing CNN in English and having wireless access with 5 full bars! It is a great place to meet with people and plan our work here. Already today we met with the group from Memphis Friends Society who are here to do a business training tomorrow. We will begin our morning observing this training with Afghan business and government executives. We also met with Rina at Ora International to talk about the plan for the self help groups and getting them to the next level. We met Quedsia who is the Afghan leader for these groups and brainstormed and planned how to conduct the training next week. We were able to get a sims cad for my treo here so I could be reached and mobile. We talked to Laila at BPeace office in Kabul but so far we were unable to meet due to the Holiday today. We will meet her tomorrow after the training session to plan our time with the BPeace associates. I think we are going to find ourselves taking coffe breaks here quite often between appointments.

Independence Day in Afghanistan

2006-08-20T07:13:00.000-04:00

This seems to be the Independence day world tour , since we celebrated the India Independence day a couple of days ago and we arrived to Afghanistan on their Independence day. Heading to Afghanistan we were aware that security seems to be getting tighter and tighter with each flight at the airport. Yet we have never felt unsafe. It’s more of a hassle than anything. We found the airplane to Kabul full of many nationalities and few women. Americans, a French film team, a Spanish group of workers and possible UN workers. It was interesting as we landed to taxi past 10 fighter jets, C130s and various UN planes and jets, all ready to go. As we drove through the city, we felt like we had stepped back 2000 years. There is still a lot of reconstruction going on from the war. The road to our guest house is riddled with bullet holes and rubble of bombed out buildings. They had been fighting from mountain to mountain and unfortunately, the city sits in the valley. The women on the street are few and you see many blue burqas, as those who have ventured out, hurry by. It was very obvious that women travel on a very limited basis. We were two of a handful at the airport. And before we walked out of the plane we had to put on our head scarves. As Susanne donned her head scarf, she noted that it really is an uneasy feeling. She described it as feeling like she disappeared. Like she were invisible by being all covered. Invisable is good in this political climate. Definitely necessary to get work done here, in order to have respect and be able to bring social help and economic development to this place we must respect their culture and customs. We are just glad as we are wearing long sleves and pants with head scarfs that is not the expected 110 degrees. We are celebrating the under 100 temps.

Lightening our load at Asha and training in trends

2006-08-20T06:52:00.000-04:00

Everywhere we have gone we have picked up product samples from our producer groups and new inventory. So our last day in India we had to figure out how to get some of these treasures home due to the new security issues. No carry on luggage, when Susanne and I had two each. Asha came to our rescue, as we headed over to their office with two suitcases of stuff to ship home. We spent the afternoon with our friends at this businesswho are working with hundreds of NGO’s and artisans in India to design, market and export internationally through Fair Trade practices. Their work is expanded into self help groups that work with the artisans to improve their lives through education. They are helping to supply them with gas stoves to reduce the hazards of wood fires, starting backyard gardens using drip irrigation and lots of hygiene and health classes. The products range from jewelry and wood boxes, to beaded purses and leather goods along with wrought iron and environmentally friendly items like bone and horn. The work is intricate and detailed with vibrant colors and mixed materials. We have modeled our work after their model and help them with design and trend issues. We saw the possibilities for doing something similar to this in Africa. Asha has set the bar high for quality, integrity and social responsibility. Susanne spent some time with the head of their social work and took alot of notes on how they operate while Debbie lead a design trend training. We are excited to use this model to bring sustainability to the artisans in Africa. Big surprises and ah-ha moments when Debbie did the design and trend training with the two new designers, Joanne and Mithily pictured here with us. We made them understand that in the US and UK we would have a market for more tribal and traditional designs. Susanne modeled her top she bought for this trip from Old Navy and they could not believe us that it was from the US. They giggled and thought we were fooling them until they realized we were serious and showed them the tags. We designed some new handbags for spring and a few for fall and checked on our order of Christmas ornaments. The Warli designs and Bidri were also reviewed and with only so much we could do in a day we came home with photos and disks to design from.

Technology and India

2006-08-20T06:40:00.000-04:00

In case you are wondering why our skype is going in and out or why we are not emailing as regularly we thought that you would be interested in seeing this. This is how the orange fiber optic cables are being installed in India. Draped over tree limbs, hung across bilboards and attached to walls of buildings with string. Email is available in the slums even if water and plumbing is not. So technology is catching on everywhere, almost. Susanne and I laughed until we cried following the cables down the roads.

Outsourcing and Exporting more than jobs

2006-08-20T06:31:00.000-04:00

We left Pune for the five hour drive back to Mumbai. There was a four truck pile up on the mountain pass so we waited for ambulances, tow trucks and everyone to clear. Several people seemed to be hurt from the wrecks and we were grateful we were several cars behind the chaos, and our driver was very careful on the slick, wet mountain roads. A rare blessing for India. We also got to see some beautiful waterfalls with the rain coming down teh mountains. For a moment we pretended we were in Hawaii. Our trip to Pune was quite full of surprises and changes from the last time I was in Pune. The names IBM, Siemens, Infotechnology and many others were clearly evident in the new technology parks that have begun in the area. The low middleclass is growing and bringing rise to new problems as marriages are suffering and people are facing the challenges of whole communities working on the US and UK time zones. The good news is many workers have gone from working as handcraft producers to working in technology call centers. We have been meeting about the new needs here and are persuing working in some orphanages to give skills and work experience to older orphans 14-17. The couple in charge of the work group is also looking for other ways to help out their changing low caste and lower middle class. With family issues and marriage issues it seems work is not the only thing we are exporting to India. We have been joking all week that Susanne and I look more Indian than many here. The US wardrobe is becoming preferred by the college and young workers, and the struggle between the old and new India was more obvious here that in the less industrialized regions we visited last week.

Security is tight so are the roads!

2006-08-16T07:39:00.000-04:00

We left Kutch on Monday afternoon for a flight to Mumbai. We were caught up in a security nightmare as they made us check our two carry ons and only carry one bag on the plane. As international passengers, there are usually many concessions made, but not on Monday. No makeup, lipstick gels, etc. They did let us carry on our laptops and cameras, but that will not be the case as we head to Afghanistan on Saturday. We are having to leave much of our luggage in India and get it back on the way to Nairobi. This is not a great time to be on this "World Tour", but fortunately we do feel safe. The roads are filled with cars, trucks, auto rickshaws, cows, water buffalo, shepherds and sheep. Makes the rides full of surprises and uncontrollable honking.

After the flight to Mumbai, we took a four and a half hour car ride through the rainy mountain roads to Pune to see other friends who are running a card making group. Just as in the US on a car drive we were thrilled to see the golden arches as we were ready for a clean rest stop. In India that is a rare treat. As we read the menu board we laughed at the Chiken Tika burgers and Maharaja Mac. French fries thank goodness are the same everywhere!! We are here for two days and heading back to Mumbai fro meetings with several handcraft groups and our Exporter who consolidates our shipments. I will be doing a training for their designers on trends and colors that impact 2007 and 2008 designs.

It's all in the translation

2006-08-16T07:35:00.000-04:00

Many of you are wondering how I can go so many places and work in so many countries without knowing all of the languages. My heart language is Arabic and English. However 30% of the Hindi language is derived from Arabic. So I can get a few words in, but my two friends here Hanson with his family and Steve helped me in the villages with translation. Hanson is a real blessing as he is one of the only people who can go with me to the villages who speaks Kutchi. Kutchi is an unwritten language and only a few people outside of the tribals know it. Hanson is hired often for his wonderful work in translating books to Kutchi. My friend Steve came from Varanasi to help me teach in Hindi. As you see, Susanne and I get by with a little help from our friends. In India there are some hundreds of languages so as we travel through India we count on the help of many such friends and translators. Over the years they too have become passionate about our work. Hanson along with some local leaders are now helping other social workers learn the language so soon I will have many people in villages with language learning.