Giving With Purpose

Today's post is not design related.  :)  
I have held back on posting this for a few weeks because I kept thinking I'd come across as preachy - hopefully not!!!  Here goes:

I am drawn to charities that help womens' progress (and therefore their families) and I thought these might appeal to you, my fantastic readers, as an alternative to traditional gifts this year.  I chose these organizations because their efforts can change women's lives - and their whole families' lives - in a sustainable way.  
(All of the descriptions below in italics came directly from the organizations' websites.)

Give a necklace, created by women in Uganda from Bead for Life. 

I love this idea as a teacher's gifts or for others in your life where you want a smaller gift, but something lovely, to give.

{beadforlife.org}

Bead for Life eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps. And people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell both products.  The beads and shea butter become income, food, medicine, school fees and hope. It is a small miracle that enriches us all. 

************************************************

Give a loan to a small business owner in a developing nation from Microplace.

I love this idea for a teenager/young adult - it's money they will eventually receive, but in the meantime it's invested for a good cause.  On the other side they still get the money for something bigger later on. 

(Although you might need to pair it with something else like an iTunes gift card for instant gratification :))



{microplace.com}

Microplace:  Use your portfolio to finance a project that enables the working poor to move from subsistence-level living to managing their money– all it takes is access to basic financial resources. You get to invest in something you believe in while making your money back with interest!  

************************************************

Give an animal to a farmer in a developing nation from Heifer International. 

Do like I did, and give this to those relatives and friends who already have everything!

Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.  With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need. It's called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace. 

************************************************

I just picked my top three favorites but of course there are many, many more.

Let's spread the word:  What's your favorite way to give with a purpose?