The Float Market

I've always heard that when in Thailand the Float Market is one of the places to visit.  My friends are right... I went.  I saw.  I shopped.  Drank some amazing fresh coconut water.  As an avid traveler, I recommend this to all who explore Thailand.  Before transportation is what it is today, the float market was a primary form of enterprise for the locals.  Thailand has many canals and rivers where trade was and still exists.  I was fortunate to see the oldest operating float market in Thailand, about 1.5 hours out of Bangkok.  It's busy.  It's beautiful.  The food and shopping are amazing!  Locals take you on a private paddle for 150 baht, which is $5 and worth every penny.  I've always heard when in Thailnd the Float Market is a place to visit... happy to say I can now agree.

Beautiful Bangkok

Yesterday my feet hit the ground for the first time in Asia.  Yes, this is true.  While I have traveled extensively, beautiful Thailand is new to me.  Bangkok is the location.  Not only are most locals very friendly, but beauty can be found all around the city.  I find when traveling, it's often what you make it.  You can choose the see the average or you can choose to see the good... to find the wonderful.  I side with the latter. For example: My taxi driver shared his afternoon fuzzy fruit snack with me.  The lady who gave me a 1-hour foot massage for $8 is my new bestie, and the flowers featured in the photo below cost me less than $1.  It's the little things in life that make me smile.  Also, getting gorgeous flowers and a foot massage for under $10 bucks helps!  Oh how I'm excited to explore Beautiful Bangkok...

Life

Over the last year my life has been in a series of high and lows.  I've traveled to Egypt, Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo, and I leave next week for Thailand.  Life...
I've lost things that hurt more than I knew grieving could ache.  Yet in deep pain and sickness, I've also gained a wonderful non-profit helping women.  Yoga and Fair Trade have become my personal mission.  It seems lately that I'm in a constant state of busy, maybe busy is the new normal?   Yet, I don't want to lose myself while helping others.  Balance is the key to Life.  As I look to my 35th birthday next week - I am happy and yet feel alone.  I am working and yet know there is so much more I could do.  I am me.  Living this life one day at a time - grateful for what I have yet knowing the best is yet to come...

Releasing in YOGA

I had a lady softly cry today during final relaxation.  As the teacher, watching others release - it moved me.  I often find myself moved to tears in savasana but seldom do I see others do the same.  As I taught my gentle yoga class today, I was inspired.
I'm on this earth to help others find peace.
Today, I watched the most subtle, beautiful awakening where the breath, heart, and soul connected.  I'm so happy that I get to teach yoga in this lifetime.
To more times of releasing in yoga...  after all aren't we to leave feeling a little lighter?

Meet Amani, Our Partner in Congo

Meet Amani, whose name means PEACE in Swahili. Amani is our partner in Congo who founded the sewing workshops along with his wife Amini, and together they will oversee the production and quality of The Peace Exchange products. Amani’s story of growing up in Congo is powerful, and watching him interact with the women in his community gives us hope for a path out of poverty and a future of peace.

Please watch, share with your friends and family, and consider donating to our work! We need to raise $5,500 for the remaining importing fees. Your partnership supports the women who have graduated from the sewing workshops, giving them employment to earn good wages to support their families and send their kids to school, helping break the cycle of poverty! Your donation is tax deductible through our partner, Action Kivu, a U.S. 501(c)(3).  www.thepeaceexchange.com 

Meet Amani, via the Enough Project’s “I am Congo” video series:

Click Here to Watch Video

Meet Ernata

As The Peace Exchange is working with over 40 women, all with different stories and struggles.  Meet one of them now... Ernata grew up in a small village in eastern Congo. Her story echoed that of a society where women have very little rights or value, and can be divorced without recourse for not bearing a male heir. Nine months after starting the Mumosho Sewing Workshop,she gave birth to a different dream, and graduated with a sewing machine and the skills to earn income to support her family! Ernata is a natural leader and proud to be part of The Peace Exchange. Each purchase you make supports Ernata and women like her in eastern Congo. Thank you for your partnership!

The Peace Exchange, who we are...

The Peace Exchange - Sustainable Fair Trade partners with women artisans in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Peace Exchange works with Amani Matabaro, a Congolese community builder. He and his wife began empowering and educating girls and women through sewing workshops, teaching a skill and trade to the victims of the ongoing conflict in Congo. The students graduate with a sewing machine and tools from Action Kivu, Amani's U.S. partner. Empowered to earn income for their families, there is not enough work for them in their villages. The Peace Exchange meets a great need - providing fair trade wages to the women to sell products in the U.S., and allowing the women to contribute back into their communities, send their children to school, and help break the cycle of poverty with their own two hands.