Sole Hope, Uganda
Almost every day lately, I’ve been talking with social entrepreneurs. It’s amazing to get to listen to their stories. I’m learning about their businesses and what’s important to each of them. Together, we’re uncovering the best ways and timing we can partner together.
The most beautiful and compelling part of the conversation is always hearing their “why”.
For every single one of them, there’s a story.
There’s a story of a specific moment, a trip, or a year of little tugs in their spirit, that led them to say, That’s it. I’m not going to wait another minute. I’m going to do something about this!
The parts of the world they seek to change are all completely different. They’re bringing hope to children in Uganda by providing shoes. They’re empowering marginalized women in Egypt by employing them to make jewelry. Like the story of Amanda I shared yesterday, who is giving 100% of her net profits to fight human trafficking.
They’re changing the way we see the world.
They’re offering new children’s books, as gifts to privileged suburban kids, who might ordinarily get a new lego set or barbie doll. But inside these books, there’s a note that could expand their world view. It lets them know that because of their birthday, the person who bought them the book has also donated a book to a library in an underprivileged area of town.
I’m peddling just as fast as I can to work out all the details to bring their stories and products to you inside Shop by Heartstories. There have been some big surprises, disappointments and little set-backs along the way. Things certainly haven’t gone as planned. And that’s OK.
The biggest surprise is how much their stories are changing me.
While I was making dinner last night, I got an email from one of these beautiful people. It had a link in the signature to a video that told their story. I watched it with my boys and the next hour was spent in conversation about how we could help needy children around the world. How we could raise money to give them.
They talked about how they could get jobs to have enough money to give back.
As I’m in the middle of a huge spring overhaul in my closet, I’m finding myself ashamed to own some of the clothes I’ve purchased over the years. When I’m out and about, I’m no longer proud to tell the story of how I got my cute shoes on clearance at Target. I’m wishing instead, I could tell the story of how my shoes are fighting slavery.
I want to fill my home, my closet and my heart with stories I’m proud to tell.
Little by little, my life is changing and I hope yours is too.
Until we can all fill our days with stories we’re proud to tell.
To more love,
Crystal
