Adventure: Seeking Long Lost Relatives

Recently we heard from Louela, one of our jewelry artisans in the Philippines.  She was writing to tell us how grateful she was that after receiving Elevita's payment for her goods, she was able not only to pay for her children's school and purchase rice, but she also had enough left over to go on a journey to search for some long-lost relatives.  Here is her report:

"Today my mother and I went to her relatives her biological parents side.  My mother was adopted at age 3 and she has very limited information about her grandparents and relatives, I ask her to accompany me to search for informations of her deceased ancestors.  It was a challenging task we have for ourselves.  It was a long ride, and hike on a slippery and uneven road and hill, I just wasn't able to take pictures some of the scenery..We met the wife of my mothers cousin, we ask information and then proceed to another area, then we meet my mother other cousin, she works as a house help, so we just sit outside the house while I ask her names of their ancestors, since we are not allowed to enter her employers house..I am very grateful that I have names now, although its not many but the opportunity to meet my aunties for the first time make me happy and also my mother...although my money for the fare is very budgeted, but my mother and I are able to come home, and we even bought snacks for the children.  I spent money in searching my ancestors but the happiness my mother and I felt can never be bought or exchange in any material things.  Glad for the technology, we have access now with our relatives through txt message..I attached photos sister about our adventure this morning.. :)"

This is just one of many examples of how Elevita is improving lives worldwide.

What Does One Dollar Buy in Cambodia

In Cambodia, the population is roughly 15 million.  One third of the population lives on less than $1 a day.  These are mainly the rural poor who typically live in the provinces and small villages.  They usually grow and raise their own food.  The one-dollar-a-day they theoretically make is made by selling any excess of their crops or livestock.  What can that one dollar buy in Cambodia?  One of the following:

1 pound of rice, some pork fat, and green

1 Mango

1 Krama (traditional scarf worn around the head)

2 gallons drinking water

2 cans Coca Cola

1 kilo clean laundry

2 bowls of noodles

It is always humbling to get a glimpse of what our artisans lives are like.  It provides the inspiration for Elevita to keep doing all that we can to encourage them in their efforts and enterprises to improve their economic situation and to provide educational opportunities for their children. 

Elevita is indeed privileged to work with our hard working and entrepreneurial Cambodian Artisans. 

These beautiful ladies of Phnom Penh have created an organization called Khmer Creations in an effort to liberate themselves from domestic violence.  Though they appear happy in their craft, their lives outside this shelter are laden with tragic stories.  They each hope to sell enough of their work to become financially independent, which will enable them in turn to free themselves from difficult circumstances.  The beautiful work they create is truly amazing! 

Sok Chan is a Cambodian woman whose handicap restricts her to a wheelchair.  Even with this restriction, she uses native fabric to sew beautiful purses and wallets as a way of supporting her 10-year-old son, Siv Hoa.  Sok Chan is very grateful to be an Elevita artisan, as this gives her the possibility to be self-reliant.

In Battambang, Cambodia, there is a lovely group of women who have gathered together because of common economic needs.  These ladies come from families who are either very poor or whose parents have HIV/AIDS.  These women produce bags of exceptional quality, though they had not had customers for over a year when Elevita found them.  Now they are happily employed, very productive and they create some of Elevita's best selling items!

A letter from a student that Elevita sponsors

Elevita recently received a letter from Darcia Cordez, a young women we are sponsoring with a scholarship for her education in the Philippines. She wrote of her summer break from school:

"It's summer vacation ... no cares for two months, but I still want summer vacation to be productive so I look for something good to do -- something that makes me productive.  I spend my vacation teaching in a summer class. It is really challenging, especially handling students of diverse personalities and interests.  This is my first time to be in the field of teaching high school students. I'm striving hard to be able to meet this challenging experience successfully."

Darcia understands that if a young woman is educated, her family will be educated.  There is a saying, when you educate a girl you educate a village.  If she can read and write all her children will be able to read and write.  The more educated a woman, the more educated her family, and the more prosperous her community.  That is why Darcia wants to be a teacher.  Elevita is proud to sponsor Darcia Cardez through Believe International and we salute her for spending her summer vacation teaching others.  

Believe International

Typhoon Rammasun

Typhoon Rammasan made landfall in the Philippines on July 15, plowing its way across the island of Luzon, where many of Elevita's artisans are located.  10 days after the disaster, Elevita entrepreneur Florita Escandor was finally able to send an image of Elevita's capiz workshop:

As devastating as the photo may appear, miraculously, the expensive capiz firing oven was undamaged, and the artisans have been working quickly to rebuild and fill orders.

Sadly, the home of Rosalia Doloires, one of Elevita's placemat weavers, was completely destroyed.  

The home was a makeshift dwelling hastily constructed by Rosalia's family after escaping the destruction from Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.  Thankfully, everyone in the family is safe, and they have started once more to rebuild their lives.

Florita also reports that nativity artisan Jonalyn Hubilla received damage to her roof, and that angel artisan Nina Mena's home was apparently destroyed.  Elevita is grateful to all those who continue to support the efforts of these underprivileged families by purchasing their products on Elevita.com.  

From Our Customers

Lots of great feedback from our customers this month!  Here are a few samples:

Betty Lou says, "Could you keep offering these cute stars and have them done in green for Christmas?"
Sure, Betty Lou, just for you!  Gorgeous table runner, too.  ;-)

The Opera House Art Gallery, a wholesale customer, put several Elevita nativities on display for a recent walk-through.  Beautiful!

And a family in Utah enjoyed a special order of Irene's beaded bracelets done in patriotic colors for their family reunion.  Love them!

We love hearing from our customers!  Send your Elevita stories and photos to info@elevita.com.

Christmas in July

It's time for Elevita's annual Christmas in July Sale!  The sale features 10% off all holiday products, including new nativities and ornaments.  This is a great chance to give our artisans whose work is seasonal an opportunity for business mid-year.

Elevita is also offering a special icicle ornament free with every order containing holiday items.  These ornaments are lovingly made of glass and crystal by a cooperative in the Philippines.

Visit www.Elevita.com today to take advantage of this special sale!  Many of our goods are regularly priced at cost, so this is a unique opportunity.  Offer is good through July 31st.

New Products at Elevita.com

We have several new products in our online boutique that we are pleased to introduce.  The first two are a result of our partnership with the Support Foundation in Uttar Pradesh, India.  The Support Foundation works with people who suffer from mental and physical disabilities. They provide a bridge between these stigmatized students and society by providing vocational and leadership training to help these students create dignified and self-sufficient vocations and lives. 

1. A lovely set of stationery with hand blocked-printed designs on quality handmade paper. Papers measure 6x8" and there are 10 pages and 10 envelopes per set.

2. A set of two notebooks with hand bock-printed covers on quality handmade paper.  Each book measures 4x6" and contains 30 pages each. 

From a new enterprise Elevita has helped start in the Philippines come these beautiful capiz shell bowls. Elevita's Capiz Shell Enterprise is helping provide work and school opportunities for about 20 artisans in need.

Nina Mena is a mother of nine children, a widow, and has only a 6th grade education.  She is also very talented, hardworking, and persevering and has been able to send all of her children to school.  Most of her children are married now but two families are currently living with her.  Nina makes these beautiful hand-crocheted table runners for Elevita to help support the next generation.

Elevita is honored to support these extraordinary artisans and their enterprises.  These are all beautifully made products and make lovely gifts for any occasion.