From Hardship Emerges Hope

If you follow the link provided here, you'll find yourself reading the words above on the Ten Thousand Villages website. Specifically, you'll be looking at the "peace dove bombshell" being sold by the good people there. The site will tell you: "A symbol of peace, fashioned from a legacy of war. This elegant dove necklace, skillfully hand-cut from the shell casings of the bombs that litter the Cambodian countryside and hand-stamped with a message of peace in both Khmer and English, is a testament to the transformation that is shaping the Khmer people. Ravaged and impoverished by war, and strewn with unexploded landmines, Cambodia has the highest proportion of amputees in the world.
But from hardship emerges hope. Rajana – meaning “design” in Khmer – is an artisan group that channels Cambodia’s thriving artistic traditions into contemporary products to be shared with the world. The organization, established in 1995, is completely owned and operated by Khmer people, providing stable and sustainable income and employment, interest-free loans and assisting with health and education. Rajana also provides training for young people in craft production, marketing, computer skills, accounting and English. Specializing in silver jewelry, handmade cards, clothing, wall hangings, stationary and games, Rajana’s gifted artisans are proudly transforming a legacy of conflict into a brighter future."
$5. from each necklace sold between September 21, the International Day of Peace, and Remembrance Day will be donated to Mines Action Canada. The vision of this organization is to bring humanity closer to peace and social justice by eliminating the use of victim-activated weapons. If you've got an occasion coming up that you need a gift for - a birthday, maybe - buying a necklace would mean you'd have an unusual gift that the recipient could wear with pride; Mines Action Canada would have increased funding to continue their life-saving work; and the people of Cambodia would move a wee bit closer to that brighter future. Not too shabby for a little birthday gift.