Last week, I shared about how this July I’m joining a group of bloggers to travel to Rwanda with Noonday Collection and International Justice Mission.
This is exciting and a completely new territory for me and Enjoying the Small Things, and yet so many things about this trip don’t feel new at all. The themes this trip embraces—women empowerment, style and fashion, justice, business partnership and social good—well, those have all popped up on the blog here before. But now, all in one place—and in Rwanda.
A little more about why I said yes to this trip:
As a blogger with a large group of readers, I get asked to partner with businesses a lot. Some of these work out to be a great fit, a lot of them don’t. Ultimately, I’m interested in things that fit with my beliefs, my interests, my tastes and my loves. Noonday fits that for me. I love the style of their products, and I love the way they’re using their business to empower women both internationally and here in the United States. I’ve learned about the work they are doing, I’ve hosted a Noonday trunk show in my home, I’ve worn their jewelry, and I’ve come to know Noonday’s founders on a personal basis. I’m interested and inspired by the passion I see—not to swoop in and save people, but to take all that is already in place—talent, women, economic and social needs and determination—and to connect those dots to create good.
Blogging comes with opportunities, the most significant–a voice that can reach a lot of people. I don’t ever take that for granted. I’ve been asked to lend my voice to this trip not to make you feel sorry for anyone or donate money or to tell sad stories of poverty but rather to be part of an empowerment movement. It’s the opposite of tragedy—Noonday Collection is creating wonderful opportunities for women in Rwanda, and these women are now taking care of themselves and their families. We get to design with these women, hear their stories, witness their talents and hearts and connect with them women to women—we’re all the same.
International Justice Mission is co-sponsoring this trip, and we’ll also be learning more about the work that they are doing around the world and how creating economic empowerment, like Noonday is doing, can change the way justice works for the poor.
Are we going to have fun? Absolutely. Are we going to a beautiful country? Yes. Will we laugh and make memories and longtime friends with both the women of Rwanda and the representatives going on this trip? You better believe it.
While the territory might be new for me, everything this trip stands for is part of my heart. I’m excited to learn more about how women are being empowered and how we can play a part in that continual forward global movement.
Noonday has put together a great FAQ to help answer any additional questions about the company’s practices and values. Click here to check it out!
Beautiful opportunity. It will change your life for sure and in the process bring light to those women. I’m so excited to see it through your eyes.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Looking forward to reading about your experiences. Wishing you safe travels on your journey!
xo
Kate (kwqr)
My personal life mission statement is: Learn love, find truth, nurture goodness. There are many ways to do that, obviously – and I keep discovering more and more. We don’t do it the same way, but if we are genuine, we will encourage the journey for each other, with minimal judgement. I think the verbs of that mission are just as important as the nouns. The heart that seeks to learn, find and nurture is a heart that will always find ways to make a difference. You have such a heart, Kelle. I wish you every success on this adventure and I know you will bring your heart and talents to it – and THAT will make a difference. I’m so happy and excited for you, those that will come to know you, and those of us who will get to share in your journey via this platform. Thanks for the courage you always display in sharing your heart with us, Kelle. Hopefully we won’t trample on it. xo
I’m still a little confused, Kelle. How do we know this i economic empowerment if Noonday won’t disclose how they pay the women in countries like Rwanda?
I’m a big fan, and not judging YOU. I’m just more confused about Noonday and wondering if there’s a better organization to travel with?
I am very confused as to why they say that goods can’t be fair trade certified. When the Bead for Life Charity IS already fair trade certified. And shows exactly how grant money is allocated. I don’t think you are meaning to, but these people are shady. Why on earth would it take a week to answer those FAQs? When they aren’t even really answered anyway…
Thanks for following up, Kelle. I would direct this question to Noonday but it looks like they’ve disabled their blog comments. I do appreciate that you’re willing to enter into dialogue with your readers about this and it seems like this could be a very powerful opportunity for you and your blog.
When you look at Noonday’s “impact” page it says they “provide scholarship programs and emergency assistance” (very cool!) and that they “give a portion of sales to place orphans in forever homes.”
This seems different from their “about us” note: “Noonday Collection is not a charity and we do not believe that providing a hand out is a sustainable long-term solution to poverty.”
I’d be interested to know more about the emergency assistance & scholarship programs in particular. That is obviously a very tangible benefit to those in impoverished areas.
Seriously such a great opportunity! I am so excited for you! YOu said this beautifully. Go not to save, but to connect. Now that’s refreshing.
There is a woman in (I believe) California. She had an idea to start a business of making coats that zip into sleeping bags, and distributing them to the homeless. She employs homeless people.
She did not disclose how much these homeless people are paid, only that it’s a living wage (and the interview went on to show one employee finally getting an apartment).
Nobody pried into their business, demanding to know exactly how much they are paid.
Now granted, that is a different situation in a country that is much better off than a lot of countries in Africa. But why, when it has been stated that this is not a charity mission and this is a business…why do people continue to pry? This is a business where they employ people who come from less than stellar lives. They are giving them the opportunity to better themselves. How is it ANY of our business how much they are paid? That’s like someone coming to you and asking what your salary is.
If these people don’t think they make enough, that is their responsibility to take it up with their employers. Not ours. I think this became a huge misunderstanding, thinking it was a charity that used cheap labor. Sure, there’s a good chance they make a significant amount less than what someone would for the same job here in the US, but their standards of living also are not as extravagant or spoiled.
Rock this trip, Kelle. I’m so glad you see that you don’t have to go “all or nothing” or huge donation to make a difference. These people need more than financial help from the world. They need support and recognition and acknowledgement that, as you said, we are all the same.
http://www.noondaycollection.com/styleforjustice#view/23056/2110642
Send me along too. (vote, now) CONNECT with the other women on this trip. And, CONNECT with the women in Rwanda. Use me to love others well.
A once in a lifetime experience and I cant wait to read all about it.
The power of one… to inspire, grow, soar…I am so happy for you! This has been a life-long private dream of mine. I am just thrilled for this conversation of women helping women, learning from women, extending hearts, doing and feeling and learning GOOD. xoxo
I am also bothered by Noonday’s claims that they follow fair trade policies but can’t be certified fair trade. That’s just not true – there are dozens and dozens of fair trade certified businesses out there that sell handmade items and gifts and are fair trade certified. The fact that Noonday is saying they can’t be certified because they sell handmade goods tells me that they either a) have not actually even looked into the certification process and are likely not familiar with all of the important principles of fair trade or b) they applied for fair trade recognition and were denied.
I am really hoping that Noonday responds to these questions. I am sure there are plenty of others out there who would like to support the organization and this trip but there are just some major red flags going on.
I am looking forward to reading about your trip. This is a great opportunity to travel, make friends, learn and raise awareness. Have a great time. I hope all the negative comments (even the “well meaning, planting seeds of doubt” but hiding it in a question negative comments) don’t dampen your spirits. If you make some friends and raise awareness then you have done well. Have a nice trip.
I love this post! I am so excited for you and this storytelling trip. (hoping to join you all too!)
@Momma- We love Beads for Life, they’re an awesome organization!
To answer a few of your questions, Beads For Life shows exactly how much is allocated because they are a non-profit and are required by law to do so. Noonday is not a non-profit.
Beads for Life is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the World Fair Trade Organization. Membership is different from fair trade product certification. If you visit the links (listed in our FAQs) to FTF and WFTO Websites they state that they are not certifying bodies, nor are they product certification systems. The only products that can currently be certified is food and some composite products. Handmade goods can’t currently be certified. We value and adhere to the guiding fair trade principles and are considering becoming a member ourselves at some point in the future.
To be completely honest, yes, we did take the time to put together FAQs for our Website. We apologize for the delay in response. We are still a relatively new company and not too long ago we were moving our of our founders guest bedroom into a real office. We appreciate your patience and your feedback! If you have more questions we can help answer feel free to email: news@noondaycollection.com.
@Jen – We apologize for the confusion. We often get the give back/percentage question because we get confused with other social brands (who we love) who donate a certain percentage of sales to a variety of causes. We meant give back in that we don’t donate a certain percentage of our sales, but I understand how that could be confusing.
In addition to creating jobs, we do provide additional support such as: zero interest loans, school scholarships, emergency assistance and business development training.
We will be rolling out more about scholarships in the coming months so I encourage you to follow us and learn more about it. The emergency assistance can take on many forms, but as an example, last year we had an artisan in Uganda who was in a very serious car wreck. We were able to help her pay medical bills in order to get the proper care she needed to heal!
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions, you may email: news@noondaycollection.com.
@Rosey G –
We have spoken extensively with Fair Trade Federation and have created a great relationship with them. We are considering becoming a member ourselves in the future. Fair Trade Membership is different than product certification. I encourage you to visit the links we provide on our FAQs you will see that FTF and WFTO state that they are not certifying bodies and that product certification is only currently available for food and some composite products.
We appreciate your support of fair trade as we value their principles and do adhere to them ourselves. Feel free to email us with more questions if you have some we can help answer: news@noondaycollection.com.
@Momma Bee – Do you know the name of the business of making coats that zip into sleeping bags? That sounds amazing!!
We appreciate your support!
Thank you noonday and kelle for your responses. I would still like to know what is the actual dollar amount a artisan is paid? I wish your company was non profit I would make the mission so much more vauluable. Is is possible for you to state what the average women making your goods in Rwanda makes a day, month year…any actual data would be great!
that sounds like an amazing opportunity! I cannot wait to hear about your trip and see photos!
I just Googled it, and fittingly it is called the Empowerment Plan!
http://www.empowermentplan.org/
and I was mistaken, it is Detroit-based, not California 🙂 I love seeing things like this. People taking their lives into their own hands, empowering the people around them while doing so much good!
Thanks @Momma Bee – Hadn’t heard of them before! Such a unique idea, will definitely be sharing about them.
@Momma Bee–so cool. Love this. Close to my hometown. Such an innovative product and a great example of empowerment. Passing this on to a friend of mine who works with the homeless in NYC.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m a huge fan of Noonday as it has helped friends in the past with adoption funds and then also I just love their jewelry. One of my friends is in the running for the trip to go with you all and I so hope she wins- she’d be a perfect choice for what they are looking for! I won’t say her name here in case that goes against your judgment of the finalists! Can’t wait to hear how the trip goes.
Steph
I am a super-fan of Noonday and I love your blog! I can’t wait to see this trip through your eyes and words. 🙂 Yay!
You will have an amazing time. You will touch lives and be touched by lives. I know there are lots of opinions on how to “go.” But, i don’t think it can ever be wrong to “go.” To show hope. To show people they are remembered and cares about. Whatever you do…do it in faith.
The church I attend has a full service cafe inside the church building that is open for the community to use. The cafe is an actual business (with paid employees) and not a non-profit. However, they donate 10% of their proceeds to non-profits that they feel strongly about. Some are overseas, some are local to our community. It’s the tithing principle but with a business.
@Noonday – Do you give 10% back? What percentage do you donate?
I look forward to hearing your words about this trip Kelle,good luck with it all x
Have you read “Left to Tell,” the amazing and powerful story of a woman who survived the Rwandan holocaust? It is a moving story that tells some of the recent history of Rwanda.
Sounds good to me!
Kelle, I am so incredibly excited for you to have the opportunity to go on this trip! I have had the opportunity to go to East Africa at least once a year since 2007, and the amazing people, strong sense of community, resilience, and overwhelming joy there has absolutely stolen my heart. Africa has changed me as a person, and I am so incredibly humbled and grateful for that! It’s interesting, because so often as Westerners, we can approach a situation where we see poverty and feel as though we are needed in that place to “make a difference”…meaning, make other people’s lives look like ours. If we enter a situation trying to “fix” things, we often overlook the strength, talents, and resourcefulness of the people we are working with. In fact, we often do not even see the people – we see the need, we see the project. What is so incredibly beautiful about your trip with Noonday and IJM is that you will be investing in people – giving them the respect, admiration and time that they so rightfully deserve. You will be empowering women to be able to use their talents and passions to provide for their families. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of the Mocha Club or their initiative called INA (I Need Africa), but they have this incredibly beautiful video that sums up so much about what I (and all my Western friends that I travel with) have learned during my time in Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsBeX3mPEhE
@Blair – that book is one of my all time favorites and I probably read that 10 years ago but still remember her name Immacule Ilibigaza (i probably spelled that wrong). An amazing story of forgiveness, I think of her often!
This trip sounds amazing. I travelled to Africa 4 years ago and it still holds my heart. I can’t wait to hear about your trip!
@Molly – We want to introduce you to IJM and how they are rescuing victims, and how Noonday has helped them become independent and self-sustaining women. That is what we want to share with you. Stories of hope. Stories that maybe inspire you to learn more about how you can contribute in your own way. We work with many groups throughout the world so it would be unfair to generalize them since they all deal with many different hardships. We know this. We face this every day. We hope you understand that. If you could just give us the benefit of time and follow our trip and learn more about Rwanda, IJM and how these precious people have overcome the impossible. That’s all we ask. Nothing more. It’s not about Noonday. It’s about becoming aware and involved – however that may be for you.
@Cathy – That cafe sounds great, we have a few of those similar type cafes in Austin and frequent them often.
We do actually donate 10% to adoptive families for those who host adoption trunk shows. Noonday began as an adoption fundraiser so it has very much remained the DNA of our company. Adoption trunk shows are an awesome way that we can help bring children have a forever family!
I think it’s important to remember that the women and children and people… of the WORLD– wherever they dwell probably don’t want their existence to be viewed as dismal. That’s what it sounds like when I read commentary about how these souls are begin taken advantage of etc. What if no one ever showed up to lend opportunity to the talents and beauty these women create? Who cares what the bottom line is dollar-wise when it’s the intention behind it that matters (and the intentions are genuine.)
doesn’t it seem ethnocentric to impose your standards of living on people who you perceive to have less? the experience of life being of quality and enjoyed does not look the same for everyone…
it goes the same for people in your own “modern, first-world” settings as well: it’s another level prejudice to assume that those whose lives look sad to you need you to take up for them because they are too ignorant or unaware to know the difference. my reference point here comes from a place of learning these things within myself. sometimes i see families who i pass judgements on based on their living conditions right here in my own everyday. it has come to my attention that my life might also look sad and dismal to those with “more” resources or whatever, while to some it may appear I am spoiled. both are judgments. maybe the people who i feel sorry for LOVE THEIR LIFE and don’t need me to stand up for them because that actually seems more oppressive– to say, “look at their life, it’s really sucking and they don’t even know it and they must be missing out on so much because their life is not as comfortable as mine”
maybe the women who work with noonday are just happy to share their craft and are fully capable of making their own business arrangements.
Wouldn’t it be a million times more helpful to use all the money it’s going to take you all to get there and instead provide cameras and paper to women in Rwanda so they can tell their own stories?
Noonday- I talked to Suzanne Cotter with the Fair Trade Federation. She recommended suggesting a membership with the FTF to verify your practices because Noonday doesn’t have one and doesn’t share information with the FTF. She stated that saying you follow fair trade principles can’t be verified because noonday has attended meetings but never applied for a membership. That’s interesting- is there a reason you haven’t applied? Especially since you claim to follow fair trade principles already?
Loving the dialogue here and learning of some new, awesome companies in the process! I just wanted to suggest a book that has transformed the way I approach helping others…When Helping Hurts. Giving handouts is easy for most of us who are blessed to live in the US. Unfortunately, this is not a long term solution to helping those in need. A couple of other great reads: Toxic Charity and Serving with Eyes Wide Open; both give a lot of good insight surrounding the discussions brought up here. I am a Noonday ambassador and I am proud of what we do and how we carry out our plans to help alleviate poverty while fostering independence and providing dignified work for our artisans. I am also very thankful to earn an income as an ambassador that helps me pay for therapies for my son, who has special needs. I was not able to continue my full-time job as a social worker when he became a part of our family due to his needs. So Noonday has given me an opportunity to supplement our family’s income while doing what I am passionate about…advocating for the oppressed. As far as the exact dollar amount we pay artisans, I hope it’s evident that Noonday is not trying to hide that…it’s just there’s not an exact answer. We work in 12 different countries and how much we pay our artisans varies from country to country and depends on a lot of factors. That being said, they are paid upfront for their products, they are paid a fair, living wage. I hope everyone will visit our website and read some of the stories of change Noonday is creating for our artisans and their communities all over the world. I also love all of this positive dialogue and the questions are great!
@Momma – For many, the term “fair trade” can be loaded (both positively and negatively), so we have veered away from using that specific term within our branding materials to avoid any skewed or misinformed perceptions of our business practices.
As mentioned previously, we continue to highly value and promote the values of fair trade and have been operating under the FTF’s guiding principles from the beginning. Since the FTF and WFTO are not certifying bodies, and FLO cannot certify handmade goods, we did not see the immediate need to join. That being said, we realize that being a part of the broader fair trade community in an official way is an important and tangible way to reflect our commitment to the movement in a standardized way, so we may join the FTF in the future.
Appreciate your thorough research and we have many connections at FTF!
@Julie Skeptical – Each person whose story you will hear from our story tellers has been previously asked if they want to share their story, it has been approached with the utmost of respect and sensitivity.
The goal of the trip is to raise awareness for the vulnerable and inspire people to get involved. The impact could be huge! Because of one woman’s story, hundreds more could be changed!
Love the idea of having seeing our artisans behind a camera, a great idea! Many of our artisans (not just in Rwanda) have written their stories and shared them with us. I encourage you to check out our blog where we have had the opportunity to share some of them.
WAHOO! You dont even know how much I wish I were going with you guys. Seriously, amazing. I’m excited for you Kelle, I think you will just love it.
Thank you for using your voice to lift others out of poverty in such an empowering way. Know that your voice is going to touch so many lives for the better, and for that I thank you!
Love,
Amy
http://www.tinygreenelephants.com
Hi, Noonday. I’m just wondering if you are a Christian organization? Do you share your faith with the women in Rwanda? Is that an important part of your work? I think that many women who read Kelle’s blog are Christians so this might be something they would appreciate. I note that some of the other bloggers going on this trip are evangelical Christians – is that something you considered when choosing which bloggers you would take?
I am so excited to see you document this trip! I have always loved International Justice Mission. Creating a sustainable economic opportunity for these artisans sounds amazing – which is why I HAD to order a purse, right? I just spent way too much time on their site… 😉
I just returned from an insights trip with International Justice Mission in India and am SO excited that you will be able to learn about their work in Rwanda. IJM is an incredible organization – literally saving lives. Thanks for using your voice to spread awareness about the work of organizations like this!
Noonday…The coats to sleeping bag project is part of a Detroit Organization called The Empowerment Plan. The young girl has been on both the local and national news and I want her to get the credit she deserves. Here is her link:
http://www.empowermentplan.org/
Kelle — we adopted one of our sons from Rwanda in 2008 and I have had the chance to go there a few times over the years. I can’t even begin to express to you how beautiful the country and the people are there. This trip will (or at least should) change you. Enjoy those lovely hills and the even lovelier people!
Hi Kelle- I know you and the other panelists are making your final decisions about the Top 3 this weekend. Meredith Mayo’s friends and family have created this Facebook group (Advocates for Mere) to attempt to capture the some of the MANY reasons Meredith would be an amazing addition to the group going to Rwanda. I hope you check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1419648674980920/
And safe travels to Rwanda!!
Noonday, these amazing women, Rwanda?! Your world will be shifted in such a good way!! After visiting for two months last year, we’re moving long-term to Kenya in 18 months where I hope to work with local women to learn trades to support their families. It really is about empowering women, the center of so much of life in Africa. I’m excited to hear more about your journey!