Same Sky Bracelet ~ GIVEAWAY!!! ~ Ends 3/13

Every Woman. One Dream

Same Sky is a fair-trade company whose mission is to empower women worldwide and inspire a movement of women empowering women. Founded in 2007, Same Sky aims to be a part of the global movement lifting women out of poverty by giving them the tools to become entrepreneurs and lead self sustaining lives.

Our inaugural project is based in Kigali, Rwanda, a country where women have become a leading voice in the peace process and currently hold 56% of the national parliamentary seats. Same Sky’s trade-not-aid initiative uses jewelry to effect change in Rwanda - one woman at a time. Same Sky works with Gahaya Links a company that employs HIV+ women, all of whom are survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Theses women artisans have been trained to crochet and make bracelets using our unique hand-blown glass beads. They are given a marketable skill and consistent employment, the two essential factors needed to rebuild their lives and those of their families.

Headquartered in New York, Same Sky’s team collaborate growing the business and spreading the message of women empowering women.
Same Sky’s bracelet design and socially responsible model is inspired by Mary Fisher, an artist, author and speaker who travels the world advocating for those who share her HIV-positive status. Mary was the first to teach artisans in Rwanda the style of crochet that we continue to use today.

Economically empower a woman - you change her, her family, her community, her country and eventually the social and economic fabric of the entire world.

During the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, women in Rwanda were subjected to sexual violence on a massive scale. According to the International Criminal Tribunal, more than 250,000 women were raped during the 1994 genocide. Of the survivors, approximately 70% were infected with HIV/AIDS and left impoverished after their husbands, fathers, and brothers were murdered. Same Sky was born with the goal of empowering these women to rebuild their lives and communities. Same Sky’s partner in Rwanda is Gahaya Links, a handicrafts organization founded in 2004 by sisters Janet Nkubana and Joy Ndunguste. The artisans making Same Sky bracelets work in a collective. Within the collective, these women are free to discuss social issues of the day like domestic violence, western medicine, and opening a bank account. Same Sky also provides the women artisans with a daily stipend that covers transportation to and from work and a daily meal. The Same Sky artisans earn a wage that is 10 times the average wage made by women in sub-Saharan Africa. The income they earn ensures they can provide food, education and healthcare for their entire families.

All proceeds from the sale of Same Sky bracelets are reinvested into expanding the business to other regions and employing more women artisans.

Same Sky bracelets are crocheted by women artisans in Kigali, Rwanda. Every bracelet comes signed by the woman who crocheted that individual piece.
Bracelets are made of handblown glass beads (165-180 depending on size) and are crocheted on a complimentary colored, non stretch cord. Sizes include Small, Medium, and Large by special order. Smalls fit 6.0" – 7.0" wrists and mediums fit 7.0" – 8.0" wrists. Over time the bracelets will stretch to fit and accommodate the size of your wrist

Wow huh? Did you read that? Same Sky is a beautiful project for an absolutely necessary cause. I was so touched when I received my bracelet - it comes with a tag signed by the woman who made it with her own two hands. I could almost feel this woman's energy in the bracelet. It was amazing.

I wish I could let the woman know how touched I was, and thank her, but for now I'll just spread her message . It's an important one.

BUY IT:

You can purchase Same Sky bracelets in a rainbow of colors at http://samesky.com/Home.html

WIN IT!!!

One lucky winner will receive a Same Sky bracelet in Indigo-Dusk :)

MAIN ENTRY:

Visit Same Sky and tell me something you learned while there

EXTRAS:

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* follow me @ Twitter & tweet this contest - RT @jamaise {GIVEAWAY} #WIN a Same Sky Bracelet ~ GIVEAWAY!!! ~ Ends 3/13 http://tinyurl.com/yjgfcm8 @SameSkyBracelet ( 2 bonus entries)

*follow SameSkyBracelet at Twitter

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- That's 12 possible entries with a chance for 20 possible entry points!!


Giveaway will end on March 13th at 11 :59 am EST. Winner will be selected using Random .org. I will email the winner & you will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner . Please remember to leave me your email address if it is not visible on your profile so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck to everyone :)


Disclaimer: Same Sky provided me with a review sample and the same for one winner. These views are my own.