Beauty From Ashes - The Story
On December 26, 2004 the largest earthquake ever recorded with a magnitude of 9.3 in the Indian Ocean triggered devastating tsunamis that claimed over 230,000 lives in a single day. Among the hardest hit was my island home of Sri-Lanka, home to over 21 million people. An entire coast line was washed away leaving behind rubble where homes and business once stood. The
devastation was so great I wondered how the people would ever recover. In that effort, micro businesses were started giving survivors a chance to reclaim their lives. Two years later I visited this region where I volunteered with a team from my church that helped in the rebuilding efforts and I beheld a most beautiful sight. Small mud huts filled with beautiful products with eye catching color and creativity by local artisans studded the streets, creating a most hopeful scene. I heard the words “Beauty from Ashes” resonate within me. But years later, as I go back to visit these towns, I see a great injustice. The poor vendor with the humble mud hut still struggles to keep his lights on and doors open. This sense of justice for the poor led me to form this business that aims to change the reality of these disadvantaged vendors. Our vision is to engage micro businesses in international free trade, bringing their products to the global market and increasing demand for their home grown unique creations. Today, we have begun our work with two vendors. Our orders which they produced from their homes have proven to be providence for their families in an economy that is driven by tourism and seasonal business. We hope to create an ongoing business relationship that is based on trust, to prosper them, create other jobs and promote sustainable living for their families and communities. Our profit is for a purpose. We want to invest in the temporal and eternal lives of people. Profits after reinvestment will be given to the work of saving lives, particularly children from the streets before they become a victim of poverty and crime. We support ministries and organizations that partner with poor families to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children with life's basic needs along with the best education available. These children grow up to be socially responsible and literate young adults changing their lives and families and communities for the good. In this way, it is our desire to give back, to engage in the work of restoration of justice and giving beauty for ashes to the lives we touch.
