A Gift to Cherish
Here at Eden in the lead up to Mother’s Day, we have been reflecting on the overflowing love and compassion of mothers. We have been blown away by how many mothers in Eden’s global community volunteer to use their skills and networks to tirelessly raise awareness and increase jewelry sales to directly support the restoration of Eden women. Not only this but time and time again, we have the privilege of interacting with mothers whose love drives their advocacy and care over and above our expectations. One of our Australian customers, Amy, recently surprised us by donating beautiful and totally unexpected gifts for the children of Eden in our newly opened Mother and Child Shelter.
Amy purchased handmade dolls from Cuddle+Kind, a social enterprise that provides meals for hungry children across the globe through the sale of dolls made by fair trade artisans in Peru. At first, she planned to give these heirloom toys to her daughter and save the others for gifts for her friends’ children. However, out of motherly compassion, after hearing the story of one Eden child, Amy was moved to donate ten of her handknit keepsakes to the children at Eden’s Mother and Child Shelter.
The abundance of motherly love that Amy in Australia demonstrated toward the Eden children whom she barely knew, reflects the daily love that the Eden mothers in Myanmar lavish on their own children. With most mothers in Eden’s care becoming pregnant against their will, we see time and time again that these pregnancies and children provide a courageous love that drives mothers to bravely escape and seek safety for their children at Eden.
At our newly opened Mother and Child Shelter, Eden mothers gifted the first four delighted small Eden children with their new Cuddle+Kind doll. Eden staff gifted a new mother and new baby his new cuddly toy as part of a warm welcome on the very morning of his birth. Another recipient’s mother has already graduated from Eden’s programs and is now employed full time with Eden to train newly rescued women in the crafting of our jewelry. Before coming to Eden, the two remaining children accompanied their mothers in the red light district. But now, these courageous mothers and their children all live safely together in the protection of Eden’s new shelter.
Six dolls have yet to be given away! Please pray with us as we wait for these next six children - for courage for their mothers to escape and for protection to travel together to the safety of Eden.
We love this wonderful cycle of love. Love that overflows and drives courage and compassion. We loved that the sale of a small doll can provide meals for children, generate income and empowerment for a local artisan in Peru, ignite compassion and generosity in an Australian mother, encourage a Myanmar mother, and provide joy for her child. With these gifts, Amy gave us yet another creative way to tangibly communicate to these amazing Eden mothers and their children how truly cherished they are.
"We loved that the sale of a small doll can provide meals for children, generate income and empowerment for a local artisan in Peru, ignite compassion and generosity in an Australian mother, encourage a Myanmar mother, and provide joy for her child."
As Mother’s Day approaches, we love this idea of giving a gift to help another mother! This year, consider honoring a brave mother you know by providing hope and opportunity for another! Give a mother you admire an Eden jewelry gift card or donate in her honor by purchasing a welcome pack or dance therapy for a young woman entering the Eden Shelter. Click here to discover more giving options.
