Rising International

Carmel Jud is Founder / Executive Director of Rising International in Santa Cruz, California.

From their website: "At Rising International we spread hope and dignity by selling crafts made by women living in the poorest and most dangerous places in the world; Places where hope is a radical act, and creating beauty is an act of courage and inspiration. Crafts are sold at intimate gatherings in the U.S., often referred to as home parties. Craft sales enable the artisans to find a way out of poverty by running sustainable micro-enterprises. Each craft comes with the story of the artisan, giving her a voice in our world. In the United States, we train women, many economically vulnerable, to run their own Rising Home Party businesses. They earn an income selling crafts for their global sisters. It's a total win-win: The more our local entrepreneurs prosper, the more they change the world."

Rising International uses the home party or direct sales model to solve extreme poverty, both locally and globally. Think Avon or Tupperware for a social cause.  By using the home party model the organization enables women who are surviving gender-based violence, homelessness, and human trafficking to connect with other survivors around the globe, and through the power of entrepreneurship, help each other to rise.

​Website: www.risinginternational.org