What does The New York Times say about CARE? Find out Sunday.

Below is part of an email I received this afternoon by non-profit CARE's President and CEO, Dr. Helene D. Gayle.

I wanted to share it with my loyal World Shoppe supporters because CARE is an organization that is working to help women all over the world. If you get the New York Times, please check out this Sunday's magazine. And if you're not a regular subscriber, I hope you'll have the opportunity to pick it up at your local newsstand!

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The New York Times Magazine this Sunday is dedicated to international women's issues, and places CARE's mission at the center of a national dialogue on solutions to global poverty. The issue's feature article, "The Women's Crusade," highlights CARE's focus on women and girls. Goretti Nyabenda, a participant in one of our village savings and loan programs in Burundi, is featured on the magazine's cover, and her story is told in the audio slide show, "A Powerful Truth."

We are thrilled that The New York Times Magazine is shedding light on the pivotal role that women and girls play in fighting global poverty. As the magazine notes, "The world is awakening to a powerful truth: Women and girls aren't the problem; they're the solution." At CARE, we couldn't agree more. We encourage you to read this issue of The New York Times Magazine, and share it with your friends and family.

A catalyst for the magazine's focus this weekend is the release of Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book, "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," which will be available on September 8, 2009. This moving book shares poignant tales of women's struggles and triumphs in the face of poverty and discrimination. You'll meet inspiring women in the developing world and even learn more about our friend in Burundi in the book's chapter, "A CARE Package for Goretti." Through these compelling stories, the authors brilliantly illustrate the connections between women's empowerment and social and economic progress.

We're inviting you to read "Half the Sky" with your book club, women's group, alumni chapter or family and friends. Then, start a conversation about the challenges and opportunities women and girls face, and what you can do to help, such as joining CARE in the global movement to end poverty by empowering women and girls.

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As a side note, if you pre-order "Half the Sky" through Amazon using this link, CARE will receive at least 4 percent of the revenue (but you need to use this link). I don't have anything to do with this offer so if you have questions about the revenue share, you may want to contact CARE directly. CARE's 800 number is 800-422-7385. You can also learn more about this organization by visiting www.CARE.org.

Wouldn't this book make a wonderful gift for any woman (and man) in your life?

-Megy Karydes, Founder
World Shoppe
www.World-Shoppe.com

Meet Lindi, a South African Fair Trade Artist

I met Lindi on my recent trip to South Africa and was immediately drawn to her infectious smile. When Lindi smile, you can't help but smile back.

Lindi lives in the Northern Cape province in South Africa and makes handmade and fair trade jewelry including this red number I'm wearing around my neck although it's a tad hard to see with my bright pink sweater. Lindi was engaging, fun and beautiful inside and out. She showed me some of her designs and shared with me the fact that she has taken some jewelry classes offered in Johannesburg. Lindi is talented - as were all of the women I met while traveling to South Africa and Swaziland this month. What they don't have, though, is a market for their work. A sustainable one, at least. One that can provide them with ongoing employment opportunities and a way to help contribute to making their local economies stronger.

Lindi and I will begin working on some jewelry designs and hope to share some of them with you in the coming months. My intention wasn't necessarily to begin a wholesaling business when I traveled to South Africa but I'm excited to be working with several artisans I met so we're going to give it a shot. I think the U.S. is ready for Lindi's designs and I hope you'll agree!

In the coming weeks I'll be posting some of the new products I found while in South Africa and Swaziland online. In the meantime, please keep supporting fair trade. And, if you've haven't become a fan of World Shoppe on Facebook, please connect with us! I just posted 30 photos on our Facebook page this afternoon!

Enjoy your week...I can't believe it's already the middle of August.

-Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com
Fair Trade Gifts, Jewelry and Home Accessories from more than 33 countries