stories
At Elevate, people are the purpose. We hope the stories mentioned here inspire you. Each of them have been empowered because of your choice to do good with your purchases. They are the heartbeat of Elevate. As a non-profit, 100% of your purchase supports our mission to create ethical working conditions, provide business training and the start up resources needed for participants to thrive!
Aarna & Solma
Aarna is a recently widowed mother in a small village in South Asia.
In her village, widows are often blamed for their husband's passing. Because of this, Aarna was severely beaten and left with physical and mental health issues that made it difficult to care for her little baby, Solma.
That's where our Leather Artisans stepped in to take action. Since they were empowered by the resources generated from their small business, when they heard of Aarna's situation, they were in a position to make a difference for her and baby Solma in a profound way.
They were able to arrange for Aarna to receive medical care from a neurologist and begin her journey to recovery. Today, Aarna is empowered and providing for herself and her daughter with a small business of her own.
When you purchase an Elevate product you are supporting the next generation of Aarnas & Solmas to be empowered to create a better life for themselves and their families.
To honor & celebrate Aarna & her daughter's journey we named this bag: The Solma
Abeba
Meet Abeba, an inspiring woman who exemplifies resilience and entrepreneurship. Through our small business training and a grant of seed money, Abeba embarked on a journey to create her own grocery stand. What started as a humble venture quickly flourished, enabling her to not only sustain her family but also to give back to her community.
With her initial earnings, Abeba invested in a milk cow, diversifying her sources of income and further stabilizing her family's financial future. The profits from both her grocery stand and milk sales have provided her with the means to support her loved ones and make a positive impact in her village.
Beyond her business success, Abeba is a dedicated community leader. She spearheads two community development groups, where she shares her knowledge and empowers others to follow in her footsteps. Her commitment to outreach is unwavering; she regularly travels 25km several times a week to participate in various programs designed to uplift and educate her community members. Abeba's efforts have not only transformed her own life but have also brought hope and opportunities to those around her. Her story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and community engagement in creating lasting change.
Weaving Artisans
Meet the remarkable team of female artisans who meticulously hand-weave each woven bag; infusing their expertise & stories into every intricate detail, while creating opportunity for them to provide for their families!
Rakesh
Rakesh is from India and lives with his parents and younger brothers. After COVID-19, he found himself without a job, making it difficult to support his family. With no employment opportunities in his area and the inability to leave his parents to seek work in another city, Rakesh faced a challenging period. He longed for a solution that would provide for his family without sacrificing precious time with them.
Starting his own business was intimidating, as he had no prior experience and feared failure. However, he found a way to overcome these fears with training from Tecsoe (the Leather Artisan’s outreach program). They provided him with the knowledge and confidence to give it a try. Despite feeling both nervous and excited, Rakesh now feels more assured and hopeful about his endeavors. This business has given him confidence, allowing him to serve his community freely. Rakesh hopes to grow his business and create jobs for others in his area.
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