human rights day - december 10th

Nagawa Grace, at home with her daughter

Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the 1948 signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What does it mean to you?

"It is difficult to imagine today just what a fundamental shift the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represented when it was adopted sixty years ago. In a post-war world scarred by the Holocaust, divided by colonialism and wracked by inequality, a charter setting out the first global and solemn commitment to the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, regardless of colour, creed or origin, was a bold and daring undertaking."

--High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour

I just finished reading Half the Sky - Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's collaborative work on human rights issues facing women around the world. It encouraged a timely shift in my thinking about the work we do at One Mango Tree, and the effect of economic empowerment on women in places like Northern Uganda. What does our work have to do with human rights?

The majority of our tailors had no work prior to employment with One Mango Tree. Most of them had very little education. They often sat at home, caring for their children, but with little voice and less opportunity. Gaining reliable employment is more than just a job - it's emancipation. As these women gain skill, they develop a louder and stronger voice. They send their children to school. They stand out as positive examples to the huge number of youth in Northern Uganda. They show what is possible, taking a strong, confident stance in the workplace, at home and in their communities.

Women aren't the problem - they are the solution.

This Human Rights Day, help One Mango Tree emancipate more women - shop our products and spread the word. The more you buy, the more jobs and opportunities you create for change. That change is truly a gift worth giving.