Twigs & Teacups has entered into a partnership with local nonprofit, CoLaborers International, to support women empowerment initiatives in Zambia, Africa.
In Zambia, CoLaborers International assists Chisomo Centers which reaches out to homeless street youth to provide education, counseling, care and family reintegration.
Erin Heckles and Melissa Stuebing.
A reason children and youth leave their families in pursuit of street life is poverty. When children are reintegrated into families, the problem of poverty persists. To address this, families that participate in taking in youth learn small business skills, such as making handicraft jewelry, to supplement their income.
Handicraft jewelry provides means for a better life for families. Extra funds provided by these sales enable families to send youth to school and helps families to be self-sufficient.
A total of 187 children and youth are supported through this program. A total of 60 women are being empowered through small business now.
Chestertown’s own Twigs & Teacups has come alongside these women and children in Zambia by selling handicraft necklaces and earrings in their store. Twigs & Teacups has been part of the fabric of our community for over 25 years. Unusual, handmade, creative, organic and feel-good finds is part of the ethos of what Twigs & Teacups is all about.
Please come on out First Friday, August 7th to celebrate with us at Twigs & Teacups and buy some beautiful jewelry to deck your neck with! CoLaborers representatives will be present and yummy snacks will be available. Jewelry proceeds go to CoLaborers International to support women and children in Zambia.
“It’s not just about fun finds, it’s also about helping people along the way. Most of us have not known what it is to be homeless, especially for years on end beginning at a young age. Most of us eat at least once a day. Most of us have been able to go to school. But that is not everybody’s story. These women and children are not looking for charity. They are looking for a chance. A chance to sell the goods that they have made to support their families. A chance at a life where they can stay together as a family. You have it within your capacity to provide them that chance through buying our jewelry at Twigs & Teacups Please come out.” Says Melissa Stuebing, president of CoLaborers International.
Twigs & Teacups is located at 111 S Cross St Chestertown, MD 21620. For more information, check out www.CoLaborers.com
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