Part of the beauty of volunteering is that helping other people makes you feel better about yourself. I first learned this lesson in high school when I became involved in a non-profit organization called Pass-It-Along. Weekly, I would give my time to help local elementary school children with their homework or spend time with the elderly at a nearby nursing home to keep them company. I eventually became a board member and ran a boutique store for Pass-It-Along, which donated its profits to local homeless shelters and soup kitchens. However, when I finally graduated high school and entered university, I was completely inactive with community service. After being so involved in Pass-It-Along, I felt as though I was leaving a big void unfilled.
However, this all changed when I signed up for an Entrepreneurship and Fair Trade class as a sophomore at Fordham University. My professor told me about a marketing internship position with Handcrafting Justice and I instantly jumped at the opportunity to help women in over 20 different nations to earn stable incomes to support their families, live more comfortable lives, and gain access to healthcare and education.
Through buying Fair Trade products in countries like Thailand, one can support people in need through a simple purchase. For example, Hands of Hope, a HCJ partner which provides income and education to children by creating gorgeous lotus cards, supports thirty-nine villagers of Northeast Thailand living with HIV.
In a way, the lotus represents the artisans. A lotus first grows in the muddy pond bottom, but as it progresses it grows toward the surface where it buds in the sunlight, much like a hardworking individual escaping poverty. Do you have a loved one you would like to get in contact with? By buying Fair Trade can make it more personal and know you are serving a good cause with a handwritten note on a beautiful lotus card. The purchase of Hands of Hope cards directly helps the artisans by providing income for important medical services.
The New Year is long gone, but why not make one final resolution to make purchases that not only lighten up the days of those closest to you, but also those in need? I know that through my community service past and my time with HandCrafting Justice, finding ways to give back to the world can make you feel infinitely more fulfilled.
