New Partnership with Support Foundation

By networking with the humanitarian arm of the British Embassy in India, Elevita was able to establish a connection with Support Foundation, a charitable trust created to work with people who suffer from mental and physical disabilities.  In Indian society, the handicapped are associated with great stigma, and it is therefore very challenging for them to find any work or acceptance in their communities.  Support Foundation seeks to spread awareness and fight discrimination within society by enabling disabled people to become self-sufficient and lead dignified lives.

The Support Foundation also operates an ongoing project called "Support Shop," which is an effort to provide a bridge between children with mental and physical disabilities and the society.  The Support Shop sells beautiful handmade paper products which are decorated by children with special needs.  As the revenue from these sales goes directly to the support of these children, Elevita is eager to help promote Support Shop products at Elevita.com.  In addition to the financial aid this partnership will provide, there are also countless intangible benefits to the children, such as a platform to show their ability and a tremendous feeling of self-worth.  Look for the Support Foundation's handmade stationery and notebooks to be available on Elevita.com in the near future!

Thank you for another Elevita scholarship

Your support of Elevita is doing a world of good!  Thanks to you we are able to sponsor the education of two more young women in the Philippines:  Mariefel Macato and Jeanette Josol.  Here is a little about Mariefel:

In her first year of high school Mariefel was #2 in her class.  She placed #2 in a district level Math Quiz Bee, #2 in a Scientific Competition, and #2 in a grade school district Science Competition and was a class Sergeant at Arms.  She also participated in a Math Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) activity.  Her class adviser reported that she can lead others and do tasks given to her with little supervision.

Goals:  Mariefel wants to be a successful engineer.

Favorites:  In school, she likes math.  Her hobby is studying.  Her favorite food is Lumpia Shanghai (an egg roll filled with meat).

Family:  Mariefel lives with her parents and younger brother.

Income:  Her father is a motorcab-for-hire driver earning $1-$2 per day.

Housing:  The walls of their home are made of nipa leaves, bamboo, hollow concrete blocks, coconut wood, and tin sheets.

Mariefel's determination to improve her and her family's life through hard work and education is an inspiration to all of us at Elevita.

Another Amazing Painting

At the young age of 19, Margarita Cajumban is an amazingly skilled painter.   She continues to paint to put herself through school.  Her most recent work is pictured below and is for sale.  If you are interested, email info@elevita.com.  Though difficult to tell from the photo, Margarita uses vibrant color and captivating texture in her painting.  She describes this piece as "the style of pointillism in the old tradition of the Filipino."  Elevita congratulations Margarita on her continued success!

Capiz Shell Enterprise Continues

Here are updated photos from some of our hard-working entrepreneurs in the Philippines:

First the Capiz shells must be gathered and sorted...

then they need to be scrubbed clean...

the shells are treated and spread out to dry...

finally they are crafted into specific shapes before firing

We are so proud of Florita Escandor, director of the Elevita-sponsored I Reach Out Cooperative, for utilizing this native art to create a livelihood for so many.

An Industrious Entrepreneur

Irene Elechicon lives in Camarines Norte, which is known as one of the more depressed provinces in the Philippines.  Though the area is scenically rich with white sand beaches, small islands, rice fields, and coconut trees, many unemployed live in coastal "barangays" and squatter areas.  

At an early age, Irene learned the value of hard work.  When she was very young her father passed away, leaving seven small children in the care of her mother.  Irene says, "Being the second child, I helped work for the living, driven by my desire to help educate my siblings.  Now that they have their own lives, my advocacy is to provide jobs for the jobless in the community within my reach."

At present, Irene has two family members and one single parent, Agnes, working with her.  They work alongside each other in their quest for self-reliance.  Currently, they are making beaded jewelry sold at Elevita's boutiques.  In a recent message to Elevita, Irene shares, "My desire to touch the lives of others, economically, even one at a time, is my definition of success."

Irene's Mother

Agnes, a single mom with two children

Irene's Husband

Irene Elechicon, advocate for the undereducated and unemployed

Capiz Shell Enterprise

The Philippines have an abundant natural resource of capiz shells, which can be made into beautiful bowls, frames, jewelry, housewares, etc.  Entrepreneur Florita Escandor recently requested Elevita's help in acquiring a special oven to create these wonderful items.  She was able to find a second-hand oven for only 15,000 PHP, and her goal now is to help dozens of local women obtain employment with the new enterprise.  Elevita congratulates Flor on her vision and looks forward to posting updates on the venture!  In a few months some of these beautiful items will be available for sale on Elevita.com.

Elevita and Education

Elevita has recently partnered with a wonderful organization called Believe International.  Together we are working to extend the hope of a brighter future, through education, to those with little or no opportunity.

For example. as part of our partnership with Believe International, this year, Elevita.com is sponsoring the education of two lovely young women, Danica and Mia Quena from the Philippines. Danica is an excellent student and now in her 3^rd year of college studying to be an English teacher. Mia Quena (pictured below) is in her 2^nd year of high school and is also an excellent student.  The school year in the Philippines is June through March, and the country is currently in the process of converting from a K-10 educational system to a K-12 system.  Mia Quena is in the first batch that will complete the full 12 years of education.  Danica graduated from high school at the end of grade 10.  Without financial assistance, Danica and Mia would not be able to continue with their schooling.  Elevita is delighted to help these bright young women reach for a brighter and more secure economic future through continuing with their education. 

Thank you for your support of Elevita.  Buying gifts through Elevita.com not only provides business opportunity for artisans in facing economic hardship, it enables Elevita to support meaningful humanitarian and education projects,  like sponsoring Mia and Danica  from the Philippines. A gift bought from Elevita.com truly does a world of good.