“I was gifted a product from the Macy’s Heart of Haiti line however all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.”
Looking for some last minute gifts? I must say that the Rwanda Limited Edition 2016 Year of Peace basket ornament is stunning. This ornament was handcrafted by a Rwandan artisan and the best part is that this ornament is a gift with a purpose. The baskets created provide sustainable income for those in need.
With Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace, people are employed and can make a livelihood doing what they love most. It’s a sustainable trade-not-aid program.
After the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, women gathered together and united with a purpose to create woven baskets as a symbol of peace.
What intrigues me the most is that Rwanda Path to Peace is one of the first “trade not aid” programs, meaning that it is not a charity, but a business initiative where all sides are incentivized to keep it going. Women are able to support their families and earn an income with this program.
This program has been around for 10 years and continues to impact thousands of women through Rwanda. With their earnings, women can now send their children to school. They can buy everything from soap to land, malaria nets to health insurance. The income they earn from their handiwork has helped rebuild their communities. One of the first things a weaver does when she sells her first basket is buy soap. The next thing she does is buy shoes and pay school fees. As a woman and mother, I know that these women must feel very proud to send their children to school. Education is so important and I am glad that Rwanda Path to Peace helps make this possible. Many of those who were children when the program first started have completed secondary school and are headed to university.
In addition to education, this program has enabled children who were malnourished and sick to now have food and medicine.
Take a look and see how they come together to make the baskets. The weaving of the baskets is an extraordinarily intricate process that has been practiced for centuries in Rwanda. Each design is unique and painstakingly crafted from sisal and grass by women who learned to weave from their aunts, mothers and grandmothers.
This ornament is one of many handmade pieces sold through Rwanda Path to Peace. Visit Macys to see all available. When you purchase at Macys, you have an opportunity to make a difference. Buying products like Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace that give hope and employment to women is a way to make sure your hard-earned dollars are making a difference.
I LOVE this! When I stop by my mall to do some last min shopping tomorrow I have to pick up a few, I love helping such a worthy cause.
Those are so cute!! It’s great that that purchasing them will also make a difference.
I had not heard of this Macy’s program before. I like the idea of trade not aid.
That ornament is gorgeous and I just love all that it represents. The Path to Peace program sounds wonderful!
when you can buy something cool and well made and unique and help a small business or family directly by doing so, it’s a win all around.
This is so neat and now I wish I didn’t have all my Christmas shopping done–I’d get some of these!
I love the ornament, it is so beautiful!
Oh I missed this. I wonder if Macy’s might still have some after Christmas, I’ll have to check. Thanks for bringing our attention to this and for such a great cause.
I missed out on this this year; however, I will keep this in mind next year. Such a great cause. Thank you for sharing.
These are so nice, I would love to get some for me and as gifts!
Ilove items like his. he is a store in town called Worlds Window who uses these artisans and I am always amazed at what it is there. hese baskets are beautiful.