Six Shopping Websites that Empower Women Around the World

MADRE is an international organization advancing women's human rights by meeting urgent needs in communities and building lasting solutions to long term crisis. By a partnership with community-based women's organizations worldwide they continue to address issues of health and reproductive rights, economic development and education. For over twenty-five years MADRE has provided resources and training to enable impoverished women to meet goals by addressing immediate needs in their communities.

These organizations work to establish a world where men, women and children will flourish and enjoy the fullest array of collective and individual human rights. Resources must be shared equally and sustainably for women and young girls to be able to participate effectively in society. MADRE is helping to shape a society where women have a meaningful voice in all choices affecting their own lives.

At MADRE.ORG you can choose to give gifts or purchase gift cards especially suited to the needs of an individual country for example: Supplies for One Afghan Woman's Stay at a Shelter or purchase a First Aide Kit for twenty-five dollars for a family in Haiti or a Feminine Hygiene Kit for Kenyan Girls.

Since 1989 the Women's Bean Project has been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment. Women's Bean Project is a social enterprise that employs chronically impoverished and unemployed women through a transitional job in manufacturing to receive immediate income and support services overcoming barriers to employment. Women at the Bean learn employment preparedness, interpersonal and life skills which are required to create their new future. The are acquiring these skills not only for themselves but are building a solid future for their families, community and the economy. On the website for the online store you'll find a complete collection of gift items ranging from bean soups, baking mixes to treats, beverages, crafts and so much more .

Items are usually shipped within 1-2 business days of receiving an online order and special gift messages are available by request.

Check out the Bean Blog for recent recipe ingredients such as Spiced-Rubbed Tenderloin and Uncle Bob's Barbeque Sauce.

According to their Mission Statement BeadforLife " creates sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by connecting people worldwide in a circle of exchange that enriches everyone."

BeadforLife co-founders Torkin Wakefield, Ginny Jordan, and Devin Hibbard met Millie Grace Akena by chance while walking through a crowded slum in Uganda. The women were on their way to visit an ill woman when they spotted Millie Grace sitting in front of her home in the sweltering sun rolling small strips of paper into colorful beads. Captivated, they stopped to speak with her. After learning the tragic story of how Millie and her family were driven from their home by rebels in the North of Uganda the flicker of a remarkable project idea began to flame...

As their website states BeadsforLife directly served over 1400 women living in urban and rural communities throughout Eastern and Central Uganda last year alone.

74% of the BeadforLife members initiate a business while in the program. The impact of learning and sustaining a business is seen in the improvement and quality of life for program graduates, their children and especially their own communities.

The website features hand-crafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other beautiful unique jewelry.

"Teach a woman to fish . . . and you feed the whole village!"
 -Hillary Clinton

The Made by Survivors program provides training in highly respected professions, provides wages high enough to elevate women out of poverty and enables them to support themselves independently. What is truly wonderful about this international non-profit organization is that 100% of profits go directly to support rescue and aftercare of those affected by slavery, human sex trafficking and other human rights abuses.

Since 2005 The Made by Survivors program has trained and employed 350 survivor artisans.

70 survivors were trained as artisan goldsmiths, breaking gender barriers.

250 children were sent to school with the projects Education Fund.

You can support Made by Survivors by purchasing survivor-made products or by simply making a donation to assist with trauma and aftercare support.

Amnesty International is a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. The Amnesty International story demonstrates the power of what one determined human being can accomplish to literally change our world. British lawyer, Peter Benenson read a newspaper article in 1961 about two young Portuguese students who were jailed for simply raising their drink glasses in a toast to freedom. Can you imagine that happening in the US? Benenson was outraged by this complete lack of justice and inspired to act. He immediately published an appeal in The Observer newspaper urging people to get involved by writing letters on behalf of "prisoners of conscience" around the world. This passionate outcry created the idea for an international campaign to protect human rights. We now call the outcome of that poignant appeal, Amnesty International.

Amnesty International now has over three million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries. It has complete independence from government, corporate or ideological interests and they work to protect human rights across the globe. The worldwide headquarters is based in London, England and they have established organizations in sixty-eight countries. Amnesty International USA is the largest country section of the organization with nearly 250,000 members. These members work for human rights independently, through national online networks, or with high school, college or community groups.

100% of any purchase made at Shop Amnesty.org supports human rights campaigns including protecting the rights of men, women and children who may be tortured, raped, assaulted and denied all basic human dignities.

The Hindi word mirasa means heritage. Acquiring this inspiration from the heritage of textile designer and Mirasa Design founder Aashumi Shah, mirasa products incorporate the colors of the Indian landscape or the traditional kantha and ari style embroidery.

Mirasa Design (mirasadesign.com) was incorporated in 2009 and launched online by Aashumi Shah in 2010. Aashumi who is an experienced textile designer used to create home design of quilts and linens. When her niece turned one year old she made soft toys with tactile elements to stimulate her sense of imagination. The toys were bundled into a cloth bag that her niece could cuddle and carry with her. Aashumi was inspired to produce mirasa design’s My Fun line for infants and toddlers by watching her niece have such a wonderful time playing with her creations.

As a result of Aashumi’s passion for giving back to her heritage, a portion of the proceeds from all My Fun purchases go to Room to Read, a non-profit that partners with local communities through out the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities especially significant for young girls. They establish libraries, create local language children’s literature, construct schools, and provide education. A purchase at mirasa design.com will contribute to Room to Read’s girls’ education program and the reading room program in India.