How you can support survivor artisans

RISE Artisan Marketplace is closing

Several years ago, a student from the University of Cincinnati heard about RISE and asked if they could interview me for a project in one of their classes.  I said, "Sure!"  One of the questions she asked me was, "What excites you most about working with RISE?"  and my answer was, "Seeing a notification on my phone that another order has come in for survivor products!"  I think she was expecting a different answer (after all, what's a basket sale when you're doing so many other cool things for survivors?!?)  What I explained to her was that I knew how validating it was for a survivor to know that someone around the world valued their skills and in doing so, valued THEM.  I loved being part of the process of someone moving from feeling ignored and undervalued to competent and valued.  That feeling has never grown old for me.  

In the past ten years, we have loved purchasing products from survivors and seeing the growth of their skills and businesses.  The past two years have been particularly successful, as we've reached more customers and had more sales than in all the previous years combined. However, with that success comes a greater time and energy commitment than our all volunteer organization can sustain. (We've tried and we're exhausted ;)) That's why, for now, we are shutting down our online store, the RISE Artisan Marketplace.  We're sad and at the same time, immensely grateful to everyone who has supported us. 

We are still planning to do in-person sales, so stay tuned for information on those!  We will also continue to help our partner organizations in Uganda and Nepal promote their products internationally.  

💚  Angie, RISE Founder & Director

Shop!

Purchasing products handcrafted by acid attack survivors in Uganda and Nepal makes a big difference in the lives of survivors!  The money survivors make from these orders allows them to send their children to school and provide other basic needs for their families.  Survivors regularly message us asking if we would please place another order from them.  Your purchasing of the products will help make that happen!  Contact us below about purchasing items wholesale!

Host a craft sale

Host a sale at your place of work, home, or community gathering!  This is a great way for people to learn more about RISE and the survivor artisans we support!  Contact us below to learn more.

Donate craft supplies or unused jewelry

We would love to make use of them!  Many of the survivors with whom we work in Uganda and Nepal have small businesses making baskets, jewelry and purses.  For some survivors, this is their sole source of income.  Others do craft making as a side business. When people donate these items, RISE ships them to survivor artisans so they can use these supplies in their businesses.  This helps reduce the costs of materials and it's fun for them to receive materials not common in their markets!  Donated jewelry can either be sold as is or used as materials for making new products.  Sometimes, RISE uses donated items to make products that we sell in the RISE Artisan Marketplace.  

 

Contact us about purchasing wholesale, hosting a sale, or donating craft supplies!