The Ripple Effect

Keyne Monson, co-founder of Elevita said recently in an article for Forbes, "On a weekly basis we receive notes from our artisans explaining how they have food on their tables, electricity in their homes, or children enrolled in school, thanks to the work they have with Elevita.com." He went on to explain that during the past four years, Elevita has helped over 500 artisans by providing income where none or little existed previously. Sometimes this has meant an increase in an artisan's income of over 400% with untold ripple effect -- for artisans, children, who can now obtain an education, food and shoes; for the artisans' community, where the artisans can use their newly obtained incomes to stimulate the contribute to the local economies in which they work; and for the artisans, increased sense of self-reliance, self-worth and fulfillment.

Life of an Artisan

Entrepreneur Florita Escandor is a businesswoman from the Philippines who has put her regular endeavors on hold for a time in order to help Elevita artisans launch their capiz shell enterprise.  As a part of this journey, "Flor" has gained tremendous insights into the daily life of an artisan.  These are a few of her thoughts as penned in a recent note to Elevita:

"Creativity:  Before doing something it should be drawn in your mind.
Patience: Required to finish something no matter how hard it may seem.
Beauty:  The attractiveness of a piece provides important motivation.
These are all traits of the artisans we work with.  It may seem easy from the outside, but it is very complicated to do!  Artisans' life is hard.  No work no pay, no pay no rice and fish."

Elevita is very grateful to Flor for all her efforts.  We are committed to promoting this enterprise so that the women and families involved will have "pay, rice, and fish!"

This is one of the many artisans Florita is guiding through the creative process.  

Meet our newest artisan

Meet Rosalia Dolorias, our newest artisan and one of the 4.1 million people displaced last year by Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

 Rosalia Dolorias is a 32-year-old mother of 5 children.  Her husband is a construction worker.  Like more than a million others, they lost their home during typhoon Yolanda and have recently relocated to start again.

Rosalia makes beautiful placemats out of natural fibers that she hand weaves.  The supplemental income Rolsalia receives from her craft is a tremendous help to their family as they begin their new life.  

Rosalia's daughters in front of their new home  

 Elevita is delighted to have Rosalia on board as an Elevita Artisan.  

Making a Donation in Honor of a Person

People often ask us if it is possible on Elevita.com to make a donation in honor of another person.  The answer is, "Yes!"  To make a donation that recognizes an individual, follow these easy steps:

1) Go to www.Elevita.com and click on "Make a Donation" on the home page (or click here)
2) Specify a donation amount and follow the checkout process through to the end
3) Send an email to info@elevita.com explaining that you have made a donation in someone's honor and that you would like an explanatory card mailed to him or her.  Please provide any message you would like to appear in the card along with the Mailing Address of the person.  (If you don't wish to compose a message, we can write one for you.)

Here is an example of an email one could sent to info@elevita.com after making a donation:

Dear Elevita,

I just made a donation on your website for $50.  I was intending the donation as a "gift" for my father for Father's Day, as I know he would be more pleased to help those in need than he would be to receive a gift for himself.  Please include the following text in a card to him:

"Dear Daddy,
This year for Father's Day I made a donation in your name at Elevita.com.  Because it will directly help needy children in the Philippines receive an education, I believe this is the best gift I could possibly get for you this year.
Happy Father's Day,
Katrina"

My father's address is:

1234 Sunshine Lane
Happyville, USA

4) Let Elevita take it from here!  We will send your special person an exquisite hand-painted card with your explanatory text beautifully handwritten inside.

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!