In Iraq, Women Entrepreneurs Starting a New Kind of Insurgency
Apr 19 | By | CommentsBy Diane Tucker
For The Huffington Post
On April 16, 2010
After spending $50 billion, now the U.S. wants Iraq to take the lead in rebuilding itself. Several experts told me recently they want Iraq’s women to play a prominent role in rebuilding the nation’s crippled economy. Why women?
For insight I spoke with entrepreneur Amber Chand, an American of Indian descent who is teaching women in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other distressed countries how to become successful CEOs. A child of privilege, Chand grew up in Uganda, went to boarding school in England, then watched her secure world unravel when Idi Amin seized control of Uganda and immediately ordered the country’s Indian residents to leave or be shot on sight.
Tucker: Safe to say you know what it’s like to be left with nothing except your own gumption?
Chand: We lost everything. My father took the keys to our house, tossed them over the front gate, and walked away with five dollars in his pocket, a raincoat, and a pack of cigarettes. He died eight months later at a bus stop in England. I was barely 21.
What a gut-wrenching turn of events.
At a young age, I recognized life was unsafe. Also, it occurred to me that there were two distinct paths before me. I could become depressed and bitter for the rest of my life. Or I could consider what happened to me a gift I could use to help others who were going through the same thing. To survive, I had to forgive.
Read the rest of the article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/in-iraq-women-entrepreneu_b_536535.html
MCLA Forum Urges Women to Speak Out
Apr 14 | By | CommentsBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:14PM / Sunday, April 11, 2010
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In 2002, a small group of women decided enough was enough … and proceeded to forge a female coalition that would force the warring nation of Liberia to embrace peace after years of conflict.
Their experiences were chronicled in the documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” by Gini Reticker and were the focus of the fourth Women’s Leadership Conference at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Some 60 women, including students, journalists, entrepreneurs, alumna and elected officials attended the luncheon and forum in Murdock Hall.
The forum’s goal was to explore the ways in which women’s voices and actions are changing conditions in the world and locally. For the women of Liberia, taking action meant risking lives as well, according to journalist Janet Johnson Bryant, who is featured in the documentary. Read More→
Nepali Market Basket
Mar 28 | By | Comments
OUT OF STOCK
This tightly woven and versatile market basket comes in a wonderful feast of bright colors created from recycled candy and food wrappers. High in the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepali village women are busily creating a flourishing enterprise incorporating their fine basket weaving skills with a recycling initiative that sustains and supports entire families in this mountain community.
Each sturdy, tightly coiled market basket come in unique colors and makes for a perfect carry all for your groceries, beach towels, books and magazines. Each market basket measures 14” across x 9” deep and has two sturdy handles. A story card is included with your purchase. Please note, this is not available gift boxed.
The Story
Nestled along scenic river banks, terraced fields and forest ridges at the foothills of the Himalayas you will come across the remote mountain villages of Lapa,Tipling and Shertung. Here in a region which has been devastated by the recent civil war, artisan families are rebuilding their lives and earning their livelihood by weaving these stunning colorful tote baskets – all skillfully woven using discarded plastic food wrappers, transported from nearby towns. Women in the villages collect popular snack food and potato chip wrappers, wash them thoroughly and then weave them tightly around coils of natural grass or reed that grow abundantly in the fields around their villages.
Today, 500 Nepali families are being supported through this recycling and basket weaving initiative launched by Spiral Foundation, a non profit humanitarian organization that is committed to the preservation and revival of local handcraft traditions in this culturally and artistically rich region of the world. Net proceeds from sales of the Nepali Market Basket fund primary health care, medical and educational projects in these remote mountain villages.
