Bag Poverty: Valentine's Day 2010

Give Love: Great Gifts for Valentine’s Day

We at Zimbags have experienced great love from those close to us, people we’ve never met but call sisters halfway around the world, and perfect strangers in nearly every state and many nations. As Valentine’s Day approaches we are, of course, offering gift ideas for your loved ones, but we also want to pass along the love we’ve received to some folks whom we feel are our partners in creating a more just and sustainable world.

So, as you ponder how to fill your Zimbag Valentine bag, consider the following beautiful organizations:

Confections for Change: Lesley is this tremendous woman who creates mouth-watering chocolates in exotic flavors such as the Cherry Bl

ossom, which is made with Japanese Plum Wine and Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate. Not only are her treats delicious, but they are also organic, and Lesley donates all of her net proceeds to humanitarian work around the world. You even get to pick which organization your money goes to at checkout!

BeadforLife: Looking for vibrant jewelry that not only shows your sweetheart you love them, but also sends love to women who are working their way out of extreme poverty in Uganda? All of BeadforLife’s jewelry is hand made by Ugandan women who were previously living on less than $1 per day. BeadforLife is a non-profit so all the money you spend goes directly back into their work in Uganda.

Africa Hope Apparel: A woman named Katie decided that it was about time people started talking about the humanitarian issues facing the African continent. She took this mission, added her flare for design, and Africa Hope Apparel was born. Here’s how it works: you buy one of Katie’s super-cool shirts, you pick one of 5 world-changing non-profits listed on her website, and every dollar over the cost of her materials (50-75%) goes to the organization you chose. Katie, you rock our faces off.

Fair Trade Sports: Most people are aware that athletic supply companies are among the most notorious for human rights abuses in their factories, but few are aware of viable alternatives. So, for the sports enthusiast you love this year, check out Scott at Fair Trade Sports. 100% certified fair trade and eco-friendly, not to mention featuring some very schnazy designs, these sporting goods products will give love to your sweetie, the fair trade movement, and the planet. Oh, and all after-tax profits go to children’s charities.

Show the Love: Stand in Solidarity this Valentine’s Day

2009 brought the spotlight on Zimbabwe for a number of heartbreaking and disturbing reasons, but one bright, hopeful spotlight was shone on the country in November. On November 23^rd, 2009 President Obama presented a Zimbabwean human rights organization with the year’s Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. WOZA – Women of Zimbabwe Arise – was given the prestigious award for their work with women in Zimbabwe.

For 41 years, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights has worked for a more peaceful and just world. The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was first established in 1984. With matters in Zimbabwe worsening, it was the perfect time to focus on the positive things happening in such a beautiful country.

Jenni Williams, who accepted the award on behalf of WOZA said, “We are not fighting a revolution in Zimbabwe, we are leading an evolution. And civic education is our tool to evolve the hearts and minds of Zimbabweans to build a strong, new, African democracy where respect, tolerance and accountability are key.”

Women all over Zimbabwe have been standing up for themselves, their children, and other women, but WOZA and the attention this award has brought to their bold struggle will hopefully cause men and women around the world to stand with them and strengthen their voices.

Kerry Kennedy spoke at the event and said, “As of today, the RFK Center and all of us in this room are watching and galvanizing support for the women of WOZA. We will investigate, advocate, and educate on the issues WOZA confronts. We will stand with the women of WOZA as they speak truth to power.”

We can only hope that what Kerry Kennedy said is true and heart-felt and that others feel compelled to stand with her. At Zimbags we stand in solidarity with these women all year, but on this holiday of love when we are fortunate enough to give and get luxurious treats, we feel their struggles strongly.

Would you like to show women in Zimbabwe that you stand with them? One easy way is to send the women artists we work with a note (visit our website or email us the note and we will make sure to get it them). Another simple way is to buy a Zimbag and stuff it full of goodies for the loved ones in your life! There is no better way to show these women you stand with them than through supporting them by purchasing their artwork. Visit our web-store (www.zimbags.org) or visit Soul Food Books in Redmond, Washington to see the wonderful artwork that Siphiwe, Nomvula, Alice, Ntando, and Caroline are creating as they raise their families out of extreme poverty.

To watch President Obama give the RFK Award to WOZA, click here.

To learn more about WOZA, click here.