We're heading to South Asia!
The Dressember team is off to South Asia! We'll be honest, the work we do isn't always as glamorous as it might seem. We're a group of activated individuals who rarely get to see the work being done on the ground. Our day-to-day work looks more like sending emails, collaborating with our brand & grant partners, brainstorming advocacy opportunities and putting together the daily blog and resources. Our work is typically done in an online space -- and we're okay with that because we know that this is our place in the fight. However, on occasion, we receive the opportunity to experience firsthand the impact that Dressember Foundation is able to make for our grant partners.
Why do we visit the field? We think it is important that you know that the grants you have created are making a real difference. We're observing, we're meeting, we're listening, and we're seeing. We aren't there to assert our influence or put in our two cents but to cheer on the people on the ground who work tirelessly to bring freedom. We're sharing YOUR stories with them & we're listening to the stories they're willing to share with us. Through this, we are embracing the power of collaboration and furthering our partnerships through relationship building.
Why South Asia?
The most recent Reuters Study labeled the region as the world's most dangerous area to be a woman. This was based on "the risk of sexual violence and harassment against women, the danger women face from cultural, tribal and traditional practices, and the country where women are most in danger of human trafficking including forced labor, sex slavery, and domestic servitude." Our 2017/2018 grant for International Justice Mission(IJM) focuses on their field office where skilled staff work to perform rescue operations, provide aftercare programs, and equip/train community members to spot and react to cases of human trafficking.
Why Nepal?
Each year, we partner with Elegantees to create the Dressember Dress Collection. The Dress Collection was born out of a desire to offer ethically created garments to wear during our annual style challenge. We know that garment workers are often subject to terrible labor conditions, low pay, and labor trafficking. That is why our partnership with Elegantees is #biggerthanadress. Their garment center in Nepal provides fair and dignified jobs to women who have overcome human trafficking. We look forward to visiting the garment center and meeting the brave women that bring our dresses to life!
We'll be taking a break from our normal blog post schedule these next 10 days in an effort to put all of our energy into our trip, and to leave space for what we will encounter. If you're a daily reader, don't worry -- we'll be back to daily blog posting on Monday, July 23rd!
We hope that you'll join us on our journey on Instagram.
XO
Dressember's Communications Manager
You don't have to wait until December to be a part of the impact. Join the Dressember Collective and become part of a powerful community of advocates and donors furthering the work and impact of the Dressember Foundation through monthly giving.
XO
