Ever since reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Since I wanted one of our family’s acts of kindness to benefit this same cause, I bought a tote bag made by Freeset, a fair trade business offering employment to women trapped in Calcutta’s sex trade. There is ample descriptive info on their website about how this community of women is the beginning of a transformation for Calcutta into a safe community. There’s even a DVD about the movement.
From the Freeset website:
Freeset exists specifically to provide freedom for women from the sex trade, women who were forced into prostitution by trafficking or poverty. These women didn’t choose their profession. It was chosen for them.
Now, they’re being offered a real choice. When they choose to work at Freeset, they can start new lives, regain dignity in their communities, and begin a journey towards healing and wholeness. All profits from Freeset in Kolkata benefit the women (salary, health insurance and retirement plan) and are used to grow the business. This means more women can be employed and experience freedom.
The great thing is, when you buy a Freeset product, you directly participate in a woman’s journey to freedom.
I’d love to send this canvas bag to one of you. Leave a comment below telling me about how you are incorporating kindness into your life and I’ll select one at random by Thursday and announce the winner here on Friday.
You can find past posts about kindness here.
I’ve recently posted about 26 acts of kindness extended to 52 which is one for every week of the year. I’m doing local first before moving global. Thanks for brightening a spot in the world.
Sheila Skillingstead recently posted…Personal growth
Cool! Each of us that does this kind of thing is making the world that much brighter!
Naomi, My intention is to access and follow my intuition as fully as possible . . . and this is helping me to be and do what I am here to be and do . . . which I believe is a kindness. Thank you for creating space for us to reflect and share our uniqueness in this realm of kindness.
Janet recently posted…WARM
Janet, your words warm my heart so much. I hope to inspire other kindness acts and I’m so glad this touched you.
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Bless you and your family for the beautiful acts of kindness you spread out in the world. I love it. I knew of Kiva and our family had done something there a few years ago at Christmas time. Thank you for this beautiful post and sharing all the other acts of kindness that can be done in the world to help so many others.
Suzanne McRae recently posted…Surrendering Into the Energy of 2013
Naomi,
What a wonderful heart you have. This past year I spearheaded a fundraiser in our community “Hearts for Arts” to provide gifts of art supplies for children at our local Boys & Girls club who might not be receiving much for the holidays. These kids all had an interest in art and it felt so good to be able to help give them that boost express their creativity.
That is so great, Sue… near to your heart AND theirs! What a wonderful idea. I love the name too.
New skills. New life. Giving women a chance. The world will never know peace until every one of us is valued and free.
My random kindness lately…to behold and honor the value of everyone I encounter. To smile sincerely at the kid behind the counter, the grocery clerk, my co-workers, the homeless guy in the crosswalk. This is more than kindness to others, I’ve discovered it’s a kindness to myself as well.
Susan recently posted…I Heart Gesso
Wow. interesting information, thank you for opening my eyes. What a lovely tote and a wonderful thing to empower the women. I’m working on more kindness in my home, why say no if the answer could be yes? Yes you can go t the grocery store in fairy wings, yes you can eat that extra Popsicle, yes you can watch another show…why not? :o)
Inspiring post Naomi. And what a beautiful and kind offer your giveaway is! I haven’t heard of Freeset before, so thanks for the hedz up – I’ll be sure to head over to their website next.
Every month I choose a particular area to focus on – say perhaps hunger or an environmental issue or a human rights cause – and I look for a way I can contribute. I like my “system” because it helps me feel like I’m giving attention to a lot of areas over the course of a year and I like thinking I’m spreading a little bit of my love widely all over the place.
Deborah Weber recently posted…My Life in 6 Words
Beautiful idea and beautiful tote. Right now my biggest act of kindness is my Make a difference Monday post. I see a link to Freeset in next weeks post 🙂
Wow. This is so cool! I am working on an e-course right now on Leadership and one of the challenges is around service. This is so perfect to read this right now!
Amy Putkonen recently posted…The Study of Stillness: Part 5
I love this and these types of groups so resonate with me. Thank you for sharing. I’m off to check out the Freeset site now!
Michele Bergh recently posted…Out With The Old, In With The New!
Thanks, Michele. This was the topic on one of Katie’s shows this week too…
I thought about kindness for a while today before I posted my comment. I do small random acts of kindness, open and hold doors, smile at others, leave change in vending machines, let others in front of me in lines, push shopping cars back to the store, and such. I realized though, that I need to do something more tangible. This year I plan to make bookmarks with kindness quotes on them and leave them in each book I donate or return to the library. I do read a lot of books from the libary! I want to send a “thinking of you” card to one person each week. I’ll just be randomly picking them from my address book. I’m also going to begin donating time at our local rice depot that feeds the hungry and gives backpacks of food to children. Thank you, Naomi, for encouraging me to spead a little kindess!!
Cathy H. recently posted…Scavenger Hunt Sunday ~ January 13, 2013
Cathy, you are just wonderful. Wonderful, awesome, kindness-spreading, delightful, camera-in-hand, artist date-taker, beautiful YOU. I need to put my name in your address book so I can get one of your cards. 🙂
this is FANTASTIC information, friend!
Kindness always melts my heart but I have such a passion
for seeing those caught in slavery set free.
Your heart to help moves me and I just send thanks
and love to you.
I make little bites of art to tuck into spaces for the finding,
always with handwritten notes that I hope will encourage fresh vision
and joyful possibility. They’re my love notes to the universe and I
try to leave one a day for someone to find….always hoping that just the soul
who needs it that day will connect with it at just the right time.
I guess I’ve felt that the biggest thing I needed at times
was encouragement…..to know that someone cared enough to see me.
I hope it does that for people, finding handwritten love that seems
dropped from heaven just for them.
It’s small but maybe for that person, it feels significant.
I’m going to be looking into this way to help grow women’s lives of freedom,
Naomi….this is awesome and I thank you for the inspire!
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson recently posted…January rising…
Jennifer, what a wonderful habit you have of spreading sunshine-filled art notes. One note can make a huge difference, I’m sure.