Day 5: Fair / share

On this fifth (better) day of Christmas, we're shining a light on artisans all over the world working hard for their families in the midst of challenging circumstances. Whether it's the young mother in a storm-ravaged Haitian village or the newly transplanted refugee trying to find the American dream, sustainable work gives these hard-working individuals a fair living they may not otherwise have.

The enterprises that exist for this purpose are too many to count. Here is just a sampling:

31 Bits fashion-forward jewelry   

Apparent Project upcycled jewelry   

Beaded Hope jewelry and decor    

Connected in Hope scarves   

Eve Echo hand soaps and sanitizers    

FashionABLE scarves   

Five ACCESSORIES handbags and jewelry   

Krochet Kids knit hats    

Light Gives Heat beaded jewelry    

Mend Project bags and totes    

Movement 21 bags and belts    

Nakate Project beaded jewelry    

Okoa jewelry from five countries    

Project Repeat upcycled T shirt blankets and accessories    

Prosperity Candle home gifts and candles    

Proud Mary Textiles   

Same Sky glass bead jewelry    

Sole Hope handcrafted shoes    

VirtuArte apparel and home decor    

Women's Bean Project gourmet food gift baskets and jewelry

WORN knitted scarves    

Zimbags totes, handbags and more    

Day 4: Quenching the thirst

Water. It might be the one provision we most take for granted in this country. It's readily available to drink, bathe in, or even wash our cars with. For nearly one billion on the planet, water is an uncommon luxury.

The fourth (better) day of Christmas is dedicated to providing the most basic of necessities to our fellow man. And you can do it with your regular holiday gift shopping!


Cellar Thief sells wine at competitive prices and donates money to clean water efforts with every bottle sold.

Hydros Bottle exists to sell reusable water bottle bottles to provide clean water for the one in seven people who lack it worldwide.

In addition to helping other causes, five percent of the profits from Just Love Coffee goes to fund clean water projects all over the world.

MiiR donates a portion of its proceeds from every water bottle sold to build wells where they're most needed around the globe.

One-hundred percent of the profits from One Hundred Apparel support clean water projects.

Three Avocados works with Ugandan farmers to produce great-tasting coffee and also finances the building of wells in the African country.

Day 3: Freedom worth fighting for

It's the third installment of our 12 (Better) Days of Christmas! Today we are spotlighting the plight of modern-day slaves, human beings of all ages and in every country — including this one — who are sold into slavery of some kind. Whether it's the forced labor of children on cocoa farms across the ocean or the sexual slavery of young women in America's big cities, human trafficking is the reality for millions of people around the world.

It's a pervasive, complex problem in our modern world — a battle whose front line we all should be on.  For those who have been waiting to take arms in defense of their fellow man, the holiday season is a perfect starting point. Available at your finger tips are hundreds of gift ideas made either by survivors of modern-day slavery or the warriors who fight for their rescue.

Delicate Fortress Creations purchases wholesale goods at Fair Trade prices from organizations that fight forced labor of all kinds and sell them by category on their site (this bracelet was made by men and boys rescued from forced prostitution in Thailand).

International Sanctuary reintegrates former victims of human trafficking into society through the sale of beautiful, handmade products.

All Lusso Bags are either Fair Trade or Made in the USA and their sale empowers women to avoid or safely exit the sex trade by providing alternative employment.

The name of the organization Made by Survivors speaks for itself. Among other things, former victims of trafficking and other human rights abuse work in highly respected professions and develop business leadership skills.

In conjunction with the International Princess Project, Punjammies are the stylish product of women in holistic aftercare following their escape from forced prostitution.

Radiant Cosmetics were created for the sole purpose of raising funds as well as awareness for the fight against human trafficking. A wide variety of make-up and make-up tools are sold.

The S.E.T. Boutique offers alternative shopping options — from clothing to accessories to housewares — made by socially responsible suppliers to end modern-day slavery and exploitation.

Stop Traffick Fashion sell bags, jewelry T shirts and body products, all made by women who have survived inside, and now thrive outside, human trafficking

Day 2: For the children

 We're dedicating our second (Better) Day of Christmas to the care of orphans. In addition to the many, many charitable organizations who embrace these children domestically and abroad, here is a little bit about three enterprises that exist to support this vital service.
 


Me Two You works to provide the most basic of comforts to young boys and girls who find themselves in an unfamiliar place: blankets. Using a buy-one, give-one business model, customers pay for one baby blanket to keep and, in return, a baby blanket is donated to an orphaned child in China.

In addition to providing for the basic necessities of orphans around the globe through the sale of an apparel line, 147 helps adoptive parents complete their forever families by offering handmade goods to raise funds. There is a wide variety of products to choose from.

Common Threadz carries a large, diverse inventory of shirts (as well as some jewelry) with original designs to support its grassroots efforts in orphan care. Every item purchased means either a school uniform for a young, orphaned African or a month's worth of meals. How great is that?

Remember our theme for this series: You don't have to choose between buying great gifts for your loved ones and giving greatly to charity. This holiday season, think outside the gift box!