Pakistan Visit

Later this month I'll be traveling to Pakistan to visit with women artisans. To say I'm excited (and nervous) would be an understatement.

I'm excited to be able to meet with the women and learn more about their work. Then again, Pakistan is under high security alert and the U.S. Government does not recommend traveling there unless necessary. While I am concerned about my safety, I can't help but think about the safety of the people who live in the country on a daily basis. I'll only be there for days. What if I lived there? What if this was my daily reality? That frightens me even more.

One of the things that strikes me even more is the Pakistani government's ban of social networking sites like YouTube and Facebook. As of last Wednesday, The Ministry of Information Technology in Pakistan lifted the ban on YouTube (the reason it blocked it in the first place is because it contained blasphemous content, according to government officials). Facebook is still banned as of today. Without access to sites like Facebook, I will be restricted on what information I can share while I'm there.

My hope is that my trip will allow me to work with more women and share their stories and beautiful handmade products with our customers. I can't wait to share with you what I learn.

Thank you for being part of this journey and supporting our artisans. It means the world to all of us.

Peace,

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