13 S. New St. ǀ Staunton ǀ Virginia ǀ 24401 ǀ (540) 885-1368 ǀ info@HarmonyMoonGifts.com
Copyright © 1996 - 2020 Mindful Hands, Inc. and Harmony Moon. All rights reserved.
Our Fair Trade Partners:
You won't find brand name goods at Harmony Moon. What you will find is real people, real artisans, and stories so real they'll make your heart break. Many of our producers are in Nepal and India where women traditionally have limited opportunities for supporting themselves and their children, as well as minimal access to education and quality healthcare. Following are some of the stories of the women who make the fine fair trade goods you see in our shop:
Indira, weaver
Indira makes our napkins, placemats, and other table linens with the Association of Craft Producers (ACP). ACP, one of the largest artisan organizations in Nepal, has helped many low income women escape from a life of poverty, harsh working conditions, and exploitation.
Indira has an all too common story: denied an education because she was a girl, she was married at eighteen and had a daughter. Her husband was unable to support the family and left to find better work in Malaysia. Indira was now the sole support of her daughter and two other family members. She heard of ACP through a friend and soon joined their textile team. Through her earnings with ACP, she now supports her family and, most happily, her daughter is now able to go to school. (acp.org)
Hasroon makes our crocheted coin purses, hats, and scarves with Padhma Creation. Like Indira, Hasroon, too, was married at eighteen. Her husband's family demanded additional dowry money but Hasroon's family was unable to pay it. Hasroon was beaten, doused in gasoline, and set on fire. She survived and was rescued by a women's shelter program, Padhma Creation.
Hasroon is now happy and healthy and able to support herself and her son with her earnings from Padhma Creation. (padhmacreation.com)
Hasroon is now happy and healthy and able to support herself and her son with her earnings from Padhma Creation. (padhmacreation.com)
Sundari and her handmade paper creations
Sundari makes our notecards and other handmade paper goods. Sundari came from a very poor family and received only a basic education. Married and with two sons, she joined Bhaktapur Craft Paper (BCP) which was then a project of UNICEF Nepal. Her children received on-site daycare and from her earnings with BCP, she was able to send them both to school through Higher Secondary Level (equivalent to an Associate's Degree). Both sons went on to become national soccer players.
In 2004, UNICEF handed over ownership of BCP to its workers and Sundari, from her most humble beginnings, became a co-owner of the organization. (ganeshhimaltrading.com)
In 2004, UNICEF handed over ownership of BCP to its workers and Sundari, from her most humble beginnings, became a co-owner of the organization. (ganeshhimaltrading.com)
