The Geography of Women's Economic Opportunity

The treatment of women reflects a society’s commitment to equality and social justice. But it also reflects its ability to harness human capital, advance to innovative frontiers and generate higher levels of economic prosperity for all members.

This eye-opening article explores the Geography of Women’s Economic Opportunity. 

Most Zimbabweans have few economic opportunities, but women face more barriers than men.  And they are often the ones left to provide for children, parents, and other relatives. 

This map shows how countries rank in Gender Equity: 

 

Do you see Zimbabwe?  It’s there, in the gold color, inside the black circle.  Zimbabwe scores very low in education, economic participation, and empowerment of women.  On all of the maps in this study, one thing is clear: "ocieties which emphasize tolerance, individual autonomy and self-expression over hierarchical, authoritarian values also have higher levels of economic development." For countries to prosper, they must encourage the participation of women in the business environment.  We believe that women are the key to economic and societal success.  The women of Zimbags are proving that one bag at a time.     

MLK Day & a Sale!

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here at Zimbags, we are aiming for excellence by changing some things this year.  The first step is to make room for change!  And that means good things for you: a sale!

Now through February 14th many Zimbags products will be up to 50% off.

What's on sale?  The ZimTote,  The ZimMarket Mini, The ZimPouch Mini, The ZimLunch Mini, The ZimOnsies & Shirts, The ZimTableCloths, and the beautiful ZimWall Hangings!

Make sure to get yours now, supplies are limited.  All proceeds go making big changes that will help the women of Zimbags -- be part of the change!

Changes are coming!

Hi there!  Guess what?  Things at Zimbags are changing this year.  We are excited to start sharing these changes with you soon.  Keep your eyes open for new and exciting things.  

The image above is just one hint at the awesomeness ahead.  We have also joined Twitter!  Come follow us to learn about what's happening with Zimbags.  

It's 2012 -- Zimbags 5th year in operation, celebrate along with us this year as we grow and change.
 

Art can change lives.

We believe art can change lives.
(and it's cool when you can take your art with you!)

Check back soon to:

• See the ZimSignature Collection.
• Meet our new artist!
• Get updates on Zimbabwe.

Happy Wednesday!
-The Happy Bag Elves

Happy Women's Day!

Today is the 100th International Women's Day.

Since we work in Zimbabwe, we are particularly interested in the girls and women of Africa and how they can change the world. When you educate a girl in Africa she is less likely to get HIV/AIDS, she is more likely to have a small and healthy family, she will earn much more money and be able to pass those benefits onto her children.

A woman can end the cycle of poverty. That's why we choose to work with women artists in Zimbabwe. The women of Zimbabwe often care for many children and live on less than $1 a day. They are often unable to pay for school for their children and struggle to pay for food and medical care.

So today, please consider purchasing from Zimbags and support a woman artist in Zimbabwe who are working hard to break the cycle of poverty with their children. Celebrate the strength and courage of women by supporting some incredible artists in Zimbabwe!

And we have made it even easier for you by offering 10% off any Zimbag featuring artwork of women.


We can bag poverty in this generation. And ending poverty never looked so good.

-The Happy Bag Elves

We Heart Jumo!

Do you have a Facebook? I'm going to venture a guess that you do. Well, now you can follow an issue or project (like Zimbags!)

Jumo was created by a Facebook co-founder and makes it easy for you get involved in changing the world. Jumo believes "together we can speed the pace of global change." We like that.

The idea is simple. You find, follow, support.

How can you sign up and start following causes that interest you? It's easy.

1. Go to jumo.com.
2. Sign in with your existing Facebook account or create one.
3. Search for the issues and projects that interest you (like Zimbags!)

4. Stay informed with updates, donate your time or money or skills, and get involved in a community that cares.

Jumo mean "to come together" in Yoruba. With so many people on Facebook so much of the time... we think it's pretty great that they are looking for ways to connect people over important issues.

So while you are clicking around on Facebook today, how about joining Jumo and following Zimbags.

Happy Friday!

-The Happy Bag Elves

Smile.

Some of the best advice that my parents gave me was to smile. You never know who might feel better if you just show basic human kindness. Such a simple gesture. Try smiling at someone today.

(This is a picture of two Zimbags women artists in Zimbabwe.)

Smiling,
The Happy Bag Elves

2011!

Happy New Year to you! A lot of us are busy making New Year's Resolutions for the year. With a new calendar comes a fresh start to be better versions of ourselves. We want to give you a few ways Zimbags can help with your resolutions.

Here are 11 ways Zimbags can help in the New Year....

1. Get in shape. Use a ZIMtote or ZIMblack tote to carry your workout clothes, yoga mat, running shoes, and water bottle to the gym.

2. Keep working out! Wear your ZIMshirt out on your run or walk.... get a good workout and show off your rocking style and body. Or take your ZIMchalk bag to the climbing gym to show people how you can hang from a rock by one finger.... and in style while helping women half-way around the world.

3. Do what matters, spend time with family. Spend more time with your baby cuddled up in his or her cute ZIMonsie! Or make dinner with your honey and serve it on a ZIMtablecloth. Or cuddle up on the couch and admire your beautiful, new ZIMwall hanging. Or pack lunches with the little ones the night before school in their ZIMlunch mini (napkin notes with lots of hearts are especially fun!).

4. Spend time with friends. Bring dinner and wine from the market to your friends in the spacious ZIMshopper. Send a faraway friend a note on a ZIMbag card to let them know you are thinking of them.

5. Eat better. Pack your ZIMmarket mini full of yummy veggies and fruits. And then carry them all home in your ZIMfolding shopper.

6. Learn something new. Pull your glasses out of your ZIMpouch mini and read the news (and Zimblog). There is always something new to learn. And each Zimbags product comes with the story of one of the women artists...it's always great to read someone else's story, especially if you are helping them.

7. Get organized. Write your lists in a ZIMjournal, keep a ZIMfolding shopper in your purse so you don't forget your reusable bags, and keep your coupons tidy in a ZIMpouch mini.

8. Save money. Use any of your reusable Zimbags to get discounts a discount at the grocery store, Target, IKEA, or many other stores. Choose to reuse and not use plastic and you are bringing down prices in the long run. If we get rid of the need for plastic bags, stores won't have to buy them.

9. Do something good for the planet. We work hard to bring you products that not only help you reduce the need for plastic and trash, but we work hard to keep our process environmentally friendly. All of our bags are made from recycled fibers or plastics or are organic. The paper we print our tags, invoices, and information on is made from recycled paper bags and can be recycled when you are done with it. Each bag gives you the opportunity to say no to plastic bags. And if you give gifts in Zimbags, you reduce the amount of trash being produced. We believe every small step is important. So we try to focus on not only the big things, but the small things we can do to help. Find out more here.

10. Give great gifts. This year, make sure to give great gifts to those you love. Zimbags not only make wonderful gifts, they make meaningful gifts. And not just for the person you are giving them to, but to the women artists who make the beautiful artwork. Share Zimbags this year. And if you are shopping for one of your hard-to-shop-for friends, give a Zimbags gift certificate! There is something for everyone in our webstore.

11. Do something good for others. Share the Zimbags story with your friends and families. Each bag features the artwork of women artists in Zimbabwe and all of the proceeds go directly back to them. The women in Zimbabwe face extreme poverty, low life expectancies, and hardships that most of us can barely even imagine .... every purchase you make is a help in the lives of these women and their families. And we are always looking for volunteers and donations to help. If your resolution is to help others, you're in the right place!

Here's a beautiful song for you today:

Happy New Years!

-The Happy Bag Elves

Art & Hope: The Perfect Christmas Presents.

Good morning! It is a rainy day here, but Christmas is on its way so we are excited. And we are especially excited to share some incredible paintings by the women artists with you. The wall hangings are all available in the webstore now. Each one is hand-painted and features traditional Zimbabwean art in vibrant colors. They are perfect for framing and would work well as groupings.

Here are a few that we think would look lovely together.....

Grab your coffee and peruse the rest of them! The colors and scenes are warming on a chilly day like today. And the proceeds from every purchase go straight back to the women artists. Buy art, spread hope and love -- we think it's a great combo.

Merrily,
The Happy Bag Elves

Thoughts...

The Christian Science Monitor has a 3 page article online about the possibility of the "unified" government unraveling and early elections taking place in Zimbabwe, still without a constitution. They write that the current state of things is "reminiscent of the violent 2008 elections" and that "Even if elections are held and Mugabe loses, analysts say, it's unlikely that Mugabe will allow a new president to replace him."

***

“If elections are held next year, we will witness another blood bath, another disputed result, and Mugabe will remain on the helm," says Makumbe.

***

We try to be optimistic and hopeful, but it seems like the bandaid that has been (barely) covering this fatal wound is being ripped off.

***

It says something about the current state of Zimbabwe that the journalist who wrote this article had his/her identity "withheld due to security concerns."

***

Though we may not be able to change those in power, we can help those who are under that power. The women artists we work with live with all of this going on around them. Their work allows them the money they need to survive in such turbulence - in a country that has the highest inflation the world has ever seen, one of the lowest life expectancies, and a growing HIV infection rate. The extreme poverty, unemployment, the poor health -- all of these things are related to the current political climate of Zimbabwe.

***

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." -Mother Theresa

***

We believe in the power of helping one person. We believe that Zimbabwe has a bright future.

-The Bag Elves

What's your bag?

Everybody has a bag. On my trip into downtown Seattle this last weekend I paid attention to the bags that were all around me. There was the Seattle Symphony bag, the King County Library System bag, the bag that said LOVE, the cute tote that had different kinds of mustaches all over it, the bag with yoga silhouettes, and countless others. And my bag? Well, it was a Zimbag. ((A new kind that we haven't even introduced you to yet and I was 'testing' out, but more on that later.))

3 and a half years ago, Lauren and I decided to make putting an end to extreme poverty in Zimbabwe our bag. We hired women artists in Zimbabwe to create artwork for reusable bags and started sewing the artwork to the bags. It wasn't an easy start and we have been learning as we go (see: English major & History major take on the business world), but we have watched as 7"x7" inch sadza artwork from Zimbabwe gets sewn on to bags and stamped with the Zimbags Z or the phrase "bag poverty" and given a tag with the story of a woman artist we work with. And we have watched Zimbags go out into the world. Every time we sell a bag it is a new thrill, because we know that is more money to go back to purchasing artwork from the women in Zimbabwe, but also because we know that bag can tell a story. That bag has an important history. And right now, the story is a bit grim.

When we first started Zimbags we held an art auction on a snowy night in Seattle. We called it Gallery 33 because the life expectancy for women in Zimbabwe was 33. We held the auction to raise money and awareness for the crisis in Zimbabwe and in hope that the situation would get better. Sadly, it hasn't. The life expectancy for women in Zimbabwe has fallen to 30. 30. And the UN just ranked Zimbabwe the worst place to live.

We don't want to bury you in statistics and sad stories, but 30 as a life expectancy is unacceptable. There won't be a Gallery 30 this year, but please consider supporting Zimbabwean women this holiday season. Make changing the outlook for women in Zimbabwe your bag. Tell the story of these women artists by carrying one of their bags.

Always,

Meghan & Lauren
The Happy (sometimes sad, but always hopeful) Bag Elves

PS -- And don't forget to email us your entries for the November giveaway! (contact@zimbags.org)

Shipment!

We love getting mail. And not just any old mail - boxes from Zimbabwe to be exact. And more specifically, boxes from the very beautiful and talented women artists we work with in Zimbabwe. The box is always such a wonderful sight! Well....


Okay, so the box didn't exactly get here in tip-top shape. It had been wrapped in plastic and taped shut so that it required a small army of scissors and knives to unveil what was beneath the plastic wrap......

a box that had been tampered with, to put it lightly. But all of the contents made it.

Inside this box was a bounty of beautiful artwork and bags. We cannot wait to share the excitement with you as we add the new wall hangings and bags to the shop. Keep checking back for updates!

Have we mentioned the exuberant dances that go along with seeing this in the mailman's hand?....


Join us in squealing with delight! Eeeeeeeeee!!!!

The VERY Happy Bag Elves

Fresh Start: Art for Your Monday....

Hi there! The last few weeks have been very busy for us Happy Bag Elves here at Zimbags, but we couldn't wait to share this with you...

Zimbags art is now available for purchase!

Do you have enough reusable bags right now? Are you looking for some artwork for empty walls in your house? Do you need some beautiful colors and patterns for a quilt you are working on? Do you just want to own some hand painted Zimbabwean art? Well, now you can.

The same artwork that is featured on our Zimbags is now available on its own. Visit the Zimbags webstore to purchase yours today. Choose from Safari Animals, Cultural Scenes, or Traditional Designs (click here to see some of the artwork). The colors are vivid and bright and the paintings are all done in the Sadza technique.

Each piece is completely hand painted and original. No two are the same. And the proceeds from each 7" x 7" piece of artwork goes directly back to women artists in Zimbabwe who are overcoming extreme poverty. Your purchase helps provide sustainable jobs and income for women living and raising families on less than $1 a day.

What a great combo ... art and helping women.


Here are some of my favorite pieces:




Do you have a favorite? Share it with us!

When you order your Zimart, feel free to shoot us an email at contact@zimbags.org if you have a specific color or design you are itching to own. We will do our best to make it happen. As Happy Bag Elves, we love to grant wishes.

Have a happy Monday,

The Happy Bag Elves

World Wide: It's all about the ladies.

Zimbags mission is to empowering women to rise above extreme poverty. We work with women artists who are raising children, caring for parents and siblings, taking in orphans, abandoned by partners. Women who are involved in the lives of a whole web of people, who can affect real change. Often women throughout the world are denied access to schooling and find themselves married young and raising more children than they have money to feed, clothe, and send to school. It is a cycle that can be stopped. When a woman is empowered through education and employment, it empowers and enables the people in their lives to thrive.

Here are a few articles about issues effecting women throughout the world:

Empowering Women & Girls

"Though worldwide, women and girls have made some significant gains, serious problems persist. Violence against women and girls, inadequate or more expensive healthcare, forced marriage, declines in maternal health, sex trafficking, and the inability to access funding for economic opportunities and education are just a few. The consequence of not focusing on empowering women and girls -- particularly in developing nations, totalitarian regimes, and war-ravaged regions, is that these nations won't realize the substantial gains and returns they would have, if they had invested in girls and women."

The Goals World Leaders Like to Achieve

"To solve women's issues globally, policy makers and educators must focus on reducing poverty and increasing education rates in those countries reporting the highest levels of violence against women."

In Zimbabwe, 80% of the population is unemployed. Women find themselves left with children, no income, limited resources, and few options. If we don't do something to reverse the slide into poverty, a whole generation will be denied education and the cycle will start again.

What's going in Zimbabwe right now? Here are a few updates:

-on the Public Meetings about the Constitution in Zimbabwe.

-on a charity started in Zimbabwe by Richard Branson. ("Zimbabwe is considered to be one of the most difficult nations in Africa to help. Its gross domestic product has fallen to $1.8 billion from a peak of $13 billion, its official unemployment rate is 90 percent and it president, Robert Mugabe, is notorious for repression of his political opponents." and we support people and organizations that are willing to help this beautiful nation. Here's the link to Enterprise Zimbabwe - check it out.)


We hope this helps you to stay informed about what's going on. We know it's hard to find the time to find out what's going on in the world, so we are trying to help. Let us know if you have any links you would like to share.

Thanks,
The Happy Bag Elves

Fresh Start: Pedals & Pennies

It is a rainy Monday morning here in the Seattle area and I need apples. That means a bike ride to the grocery store. Recently, I’ve been trying to use my own power to get places. This means I’ve been walking to the store and biking to the post office and library – or trying. Sometimes it’s hard to motivate myself when using the car would be so much easier, especially now that fall (and rain) has settled in here in Washington. So I try to talk myself into it. That’s right …. I talk to myself. I tell myself about all the benefits of using my own power to travel: exercise, relieving the environment of some carbon emissions, saving money on gas, and enjoying the scenery. Plus I get to use my bike with the basket.

Here’s the view from my bike, complete with a Zimshopper in the basket:

And here’s some of the scenery I enjoy on my bike ride to town:

For the other Happy Bag Elf’s birthday I got her a tricycle. Yep, she’s a grown woman and I got her a tricycle. She can put the Little Lady in the basket in the back and bike to the park for some playing. It’s Zimbags green with a white basket. And her name is Myrtle – slow, but steady. Keep chec

Here’s a picture of the Happy Bag Elf and her Little Lady enjoying some pedal power (aren’t they the cutest?):

Keep checking back, I think the Myrtle adventures are going to be fun!

In other news, I got a happy little thrill the other day I went to Target and handed the cashier my Zimbag for my few items. She said, “And for bringing your own bag, you get 5 cents off,” she scanned a little barcode taped to the counter and like magic, 5 cents came off my total.

Now, 5 cents isn’t that much. When I was in elementary school that would have bought me a tootsie roll, but that was a long time ago. But if I get 5 cents off every time I went to Target, that would probably be about $2.60 a year. (Yes, I go to Target about once a week – it’s a bad habit.) And then if I add in the discounts from the grocery stores and other stores I visit …. the bag pays for itself in about a year. And it saves a lot of plastic bags. Plus the handles on my Zimbags never break and they don’t rip and spill my stuff all over the floor. And it’s cute to boot.

But one of my favorite things about using my Zimbags at the store is that I get to tell the story of our women artists. People often comment on how much they like my bag and ask where I got it. That gives me a chance to tell them (quickly, because there is usually a line) about the women artists and Zimbags. It always makes me smile when I get to talk about Siphiwe, Ntando, Alice, Caroline, and Nomvula. It is the best motivation for using my Zimbags at the store.

Sometimes it’s the small things that make big a difference. A 2 mile bike ride to the store gives me time to enjoy the scenery and toting my Zimbags around gives me a chance to tell someone about the beautiful painting done by women half a world away.

xo,
The Happy Bag Elves

Zimfest: Days 2-4

Corvallis, Oregon -- Zimfest 2010

Our set up at Zimfest.Wall Hangings and Tablecloths...

Patches and Sign-up Sheets....

Steven, the very happy helper! (Thanks, Steven!)

Ryan, another helpful man. (Thanks, Ryan!)

Zimfest 2010 was a huge success for Zimbags! Not only were sales great, we were able to spread the word about our wonderful women artists and the work we are doing. On top of that, we had fun.

The weather couldn’t have been better, the set up was perfect, the crowd was enthusiastic and encouraging, the music was fabulous, and dancing in the grass didn’t hurt.

We nearly sold out of onsies, zipped right through a bunch of our Zimbags Folding Shoppers and Zimarket Minis and sold at least a few of everything each day. And with each purchase, a woman’s story was told. We can’t tell you how important it is to us that we share the stories of these 5 incredible women in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. We met people from all over the world with all sorts of ties to Zimbabwe and we were encouraged by their support and interest.

Thank you to all who came out and had fun with us. We hope to see you next year! And in the mean time, let’s continue to work together to spread the news about Zimbabwe and our women artists. Let’s join together to bag poverty.

Thanks,

The Happy Bag Elves

PS – Just because Zimfest is over this year doesn’t mean you can’t get your Zimbag! Visit our webstore or Etsy page to get your bag and become part of the Zimbag story.

New Deigns & Events....

(A Zimbag at Klaloch Beach on the Washington Coast.)

Hello there. Summer is in full swing and Zimbags are making the rounds at beaches, farmer's markets, picnics, the pool, and more. Where has your bag taken you? (We'd love to hear from you or see pictures!)

It's been an exciting summer as we made our first appearance at the Crossroads Farmer's Market in Bellevue, Washington and we are gearing up for Zimfest 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon from August 20-22.

Zimfest 2010 is bound to be a blast with Zimbabwean music and dancing and a marketplace full of other non-profits, musicians, artists, and more. We'd love to see you if you are in the area. Stop by and see what Zimbags is up to and dance with us.

We will be debuting two new screen print designs at Zimfest 2010 and the following week at the Crossroads Farmer's Market. They will be up online next month, but stop by one of these events to get them before everyone else. We also have toddler and kid shirts now that will be available at these events. All the designs are based on paintings done by the women artists and all of the proceeds go directly back to them.

We are excited about the things happening at Zimbags right now. Keep checking back for more updates and pictures. (And, of course, we'd love to hear from you and see you with your bag or shirt!)

Thanks for your continued support,
The Happy Bag Elves

PS-- Here's a sneak peek at the new screen print designs..... lots of love....

Zimbags at the market....

June 1st marked Zimbags' first trip to the Farmer's Market. We had so much fun, in spite of the chilly weather. We were able to tell the Zimbags story, get some stylish bags into the hands of market-goers, and eat some yummy food.

June 15th was our 2nd trip and was even better because the sun decided to make an appearance!

Our hope is that the Farmer's Market will be a great place to spread the word about Zimbags, get reusable bags into the hands of shoppers to reduce the use of plastic bags, and show off the beautiful work of our women artists.

Our next date is June 29th .... we really hope to see you there! And if you can't come to the Crossroads Farmer's Market in Bellevue, Washington -- you could buy a Zimbag Shopper and a Zimarket Mini to make trips to your local farmer's market easier and more environmentally friendly.

Here are some pictures from the June 15th trip....




Thanks for all your support,
The Happy Bag Elves