Elevita and Living Wages

It is always eye-opening to see the kind of economic challenges our artisans face. For example, here is a rough idea what local things cost in the rural Philippines so you can see where a low wage earner's income goes.

What things cost:  60 pesos (p60) = $1.38

Jeepney ride: 10 pesos (medium distance)

Cost of a liter of fuel: p58+

Tricycad (local transportation: p8+

Small bottle of water: p15-20

Local meal with meat: p70+
The average cost of school (rural) per child, per month: p200+ ($4.56)

Salaries:

The average security person earns p200+ per day ($4.56)

The average hotel cleaner earns p200+ per day 

The average receptionist earns p200 - 300 + per day 

A village girl or boy brought to work as a housekeeper can be paid as little as 0 to 50 pesos per day.
A village girl of boy working in the rice fields make as little as 15 pesos per day. 

Most employers of fast food restaurants and supermarket chains only hire people for 5 months and then release them so that they don't have to pay out full-time benefits.  

Elevita.com pays our Philippine artisans a fair trade wage for their work to ensure they have a living wage to support themselves and their family.  We also support their efforts to grow and develop their enterprise so as to create additional jobs at fair wages for others. In addition, we currently provide scholarships for 4 young women to attend secondary school or college so they they will have greater economic opportunity in their future.  Your purchases from and support for Elevita.com makes all of this possible.  We couldn't do this without you! 

What can I do to help?

How far that little candle throws his beam!
So shines a good deed in a weary world.
William Shakespeare

6 years ago, Kirsten Monson joined her husband on a business trip throughout India and southeast Asia.   In each country she fell in love with the beauty of the land and the people.  She also saw so many struggling with poverty and lack of education and opportunity.  She asked herself, "What can I do to help" and soon came up with the idea for Elevita -- an organization where marginalized artisans can help themselves by selling their products on our website and by developing sustainable enterprises and educational opportunity for their children.

While Elevita may be a little candle in the grand scheme of things, we are working hard to make a difference for those who we can reach. We are grateful to all of our supporters who have help us shine a good deed in a weary world.

What can you do to help?

1. Like us on Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elevita/109610709106632?ref=hl 
and ask your friends to like us on Facebook too.

2. Host a humanitarian boutique for Elevita! Invite your friends to join the cause by purchasing our beautiful handmade products. Please e-mail info@elevita.com  if you are interested.  See more at: http://www.elevita.com/category_s/64.htm#sthash.RD2uAcgb.dpuf

3. Help us educate youth in the Philippines!
100% of your donation will go toward scholarships for needy youth in the Philippines. Without this money, it would be impossible for them to obtain an education, as schools are not free in the Philippines. These youth will also receive training in ethics and responsibility that will eventually help them lift themselves and their nation out of poverty.  $125 will educate one student for an entire year.  Your donation will make a huge difference! - See more at: http://www.elevita.com/donate.asp#sthash.ykrCq4p6.dpuf

4. Follow us on Twitter (TheElevita) and Instagram (ElevitaGifts)

5. Help us grow.  Help us reach a broader audience; Write an article about us; Sign up to receive our Newsletter; Tell your friends about us; Do your gift shopping on Elevita.com -- make your purchases do a world of good. 

Yet Another Scholarship: Mariel Flores

Elevita entrepreneur Florita Escandor recently came in contact with a young girl who was anxious to get an education and to work out of the cycle of poverty that is now gripping her family.  Florita offered Mariel a place to live in exchange for help with the Capiz Shell Enterprise, and then requested a grant from Elevita to cover school supplies and fees.  Below is a photo of Mariel at home with her family, followed by a photo of her proudly holding up some of her new school supplies.  We look forward to continued updates on Mariel's progress!

Doing a World of Good for Jeanette Josol

Jeanette Josol is a hard working and dedicated student whose education is sponsored this year by Elevita thanks to our partnership with BELIEVE International and your generous support. 

Jeannette loves school. She is always active in class discussions and wants to become a teacher.  She is determined to finish her studies and help her family have a better life. She recently wrote to us about surviving last year's typhoon. Her strength and positive attitude is an inspiration to all of us at Elevita.  

In school Jeanette likes science and group activities.  She also enjoys reading and listening to Korean songs. Jeanette and her younger brother live with their parents.  Her father is a carpenter and earns $7.00 a day when he has work.  They live in a house made of Nipa leaves and bamboo and a dirt packed floor. 

When you buy a gift from Elevita.com or send in a contribution, your support does a World of Good. Just ask Jeanette! 

For more information about BELIEVE International:

http://believeinternational.org

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!