SOLACE INTERNATIONAL

Description

Vision for Afghanistan: Contracting with skilled craftspeople, the majority of whom are Afghan women, Solace raises funds through U.S.-based sales of handcrafted rugs, silks, embroidery and jewelry. Those funds are then reinvested back into Afghanistan through the construction of girls schools. As of 2005, Solace has built 7 schools in Afghanstan for over 3000 students. Solace currently employs over 80 women in textile related cottage industry in the northern Afghan province of Jawzjan. Solace believes its model of providing a marketplace for the sale of high quality handcrafted goods, the proceeds of which are used to build Afghan girls schools, provides a solution for improving the economic and educational opportunities for women.