"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give", Sir Winston Churchill.

GIVE A HELPING HAND!

Kismet Gift Shop is happy to support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. We donate a portion of the proceeds from all "Pink Ribbon" items found throughout Kismet Gift Shop and under Gifts for Her to aid in the fight against Breast Cancer. Join the effort and purchase a Pink Ribbon gift for a friend to remind them about the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness!

GLOBAL GIVING

Kismet Gift Shop is also pleased to feature the following organizations who work to alleviate poverty and who bring sustainable solutions to those who need a helping hand. Learn more about their cause by visiting their website and purchasing gifts that will support specific humanitarian efforts around the world.

Bread&Water exists to give every person a chance to live. They are an independent, non-profit organization whose vision is to equip those who are in need with all that is necessary to live. They define these basic necessities of life to be primary physical needs, skills to make a sustainable living and seeds of hope to make that life grow. It is their hope that compassion should never be bound by cost. Their primary work is to gather resources to support humanitarian aid projects run by those who carry out their vision in the field. Through their partnership with micro-enterprises around the world and the handiwork of their many volunteers, they have developed Giving Tree, their gift shop. Each product is linked to a different cause and 100% of the proceeds from each purchase go towards the projects they support. Please Visit the Giving Tree and give a gift that can change the world!

Cards from Africa (CfA) employs young people orphaned from the Rwandan genocide and disease to make handmade greeting cards. All the cardmakers have lost both parents and support at least one younger sibling. Because they were not able to finish school, many have little to no work prospects. At Cards from Africa, they are able to make over 5 times what they could otherwise, allowing them to provide food, shelter, health care, and education for their siblings. Through these jobs, Cards from Africa hopes to break the cycle of poverty for these young people. Please visit them at http://cardsfromafrica.com to see our assortment of greeting cards. If you are interested in custom wedding invitations or thank you cards, please contact joe@cardsfromafrica.com for details and mention Kismet Gift Shop.

Banyan Paper sells handmade, fair trade, and eco-friendly products that help provide jobs for the most underprivileged of the world. Their product line includes journals and scrapbooks made by women in Northern India, perfect for a wedding guest book, and handbags crafted by women in the Philippines. These jobs help the women provide food, shelter, and education for their children. Banyan Paper's products have been featured in such publications as O! Magazine, Newsweek, and the Los Angeles Times. All of Banyan Paper's producers are certified by the Fair Trade Federation and adhere to Fair Trade standards. Please visit them at www.banyanpaper.com. Enter discount code KISMET15 to receive 15% off all journals and handbags.

The Starfish Project is dedicated to helping exploited women in Beijing, China by...

Building Relationships: Volunteers regularly go into the streets and develop relationships with at-risk women.

Providing Medical Check-Ups and Training on Heath Issues: Starfish takes girls to local hospitals and cover the cost of their medical treatment. They also hold events where they teach about health issues.

Providing Shelter: After months of building relationships, some of these women come to trust the Starfish team enough to leave life on the streets and come into their shelter. The women that live there are learning a new way of life in community. They become for each other a family which requires them to learn communication skills and strategies for healthy conflict resolution. They also discover that they each have unique talents and gifts, which they are encouraged to explore through practice and additional training. Our shelter is run by several house moms who are committed to day in and day out life with the women.

Providing New Employment: In 2007 Starfish opened a jewelry business to provide an alternate source of income for the women in the shelter. By participating in various aspects of jewelry making and distribution, they earn a salary that keeps them off the street and in wholesome, life-giving relationships. 100% of our proceeds go to help support the women who made the jewelry.

Providing Vocational Training: Each of the women in the shelter has the opportunity to attend vocational school where they can be trained for the future and pursue their dreams.

Counseling: The women in the shelter receive regular counseling. They participate in group sessions where they begin to heal from their past hurts and learn tools for their future life. They also have the option for one-on-one sessions.

Please Visit the Starfish Project Jewelry Store to see the beautiful jewelry being sold to support new lives.