Necklace of Courage
This stunning necklace with its translucent fluorite stones in a luminous ocean blue color reflects a unique cross-border design initiative. The necklace is crafted by war widows in Kabul, Afghanistan and arrives in an indigo blue textured bag sewn by seamstresses in Karbala, a holy city outside of Baghdad. Each jewelry bag is decorated with small silver charm engraved by artisans in Jordan that symbolizes the plaintive call of “remember me” This simple, elegant necklace offers a breath taking vision of what is possible when we create across borders. Fluorite is a highly prized stone said to have mystical properties that transform chaos into order.
The Kabul Necklace of Courage is accented with sterling silver beads and a simple clasp. Each necklace rests comfortably at the base of the neck. It measures 20-1/4 inches in length. A story card is included with your purchase.
The Story
Twenty three years of continual warfare have created thousands of Afghan families who are solely headed by war widows left to support their children. In Kabul alone there are an estimated 50,000 women who are uneducated, illiterate and lack basic job skills to support themselves or their families. During the Taliban era, severe restrictions were imposed on women denying them the right to leave their homes – and even today many Afghan women are still reluctant to step outside their houses and travel or walk anywhere without a male escort. The attempt of our jewelry makers to earn a dignified living through this initiative means that they are courageously fighting against societal taboos.
Similarly, in present day Iraq, we find women living under extremely dangerous conditions in daily fear of speaking out their opinions, going out to work or defying the strict prohibitions in dress and behavior. The fact that they were able to create these jewelry bags and have them transported out of the country is a testament to their resilience and courage.
This complex cross border initiative could not have occured were it not for the enduring support of Women for Women International, a non profit organization that was founded by Zainab Salbi in 1993 as a means to support women in war torn regions rebuild their lives by offering emotional and financial support.
As a tribute to a cross-border initiative, it arrives in an indigo blue textured jewelry bag, sewn by seamstresses in Karbala, a holy city on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Once sewn, the jewelry bags are flown to Jordan, where a group of women engravers add silver charms, designed by Nadia Dejani, that symbolize the plaintive call of “Remember Me” – a tribute to women living in these volatile regions of the world.
