A Year in Review: 9 Images from 2009

Posted by Alia on Thursday, December 31, 2009

We know the following images are a little small, so feel free to download your very own pdf of our Year in Review document here: http://emergeglobal.org/files/Emerge_9_Images_from_2009.pdf

"We’d like to dedicate this year’s work to the first class of 18 girls we worked with, more than four years ago. Without them, Emerge would never have existed. Their input, participation, growth and struggles have informed us and inspired us to make Emerge what it is and what we hope it one day will be--a grassroots organization that supports young women around the world.

In 2009, we..."

"Built our foundation: Emerge Global became a non-profit in the US and Emerge Lanka Foundation was registered as a charitable organization in Sri Lanka""Developed our curriculum: We finished the first draft of our Bead Program booklet, with particular emphasis on business planning. We also launched our life skills series."

"Expanded our Program: In addition to working at Ma"Sevana, with the help of a past participant, we now also work at a center run by the Sri Lankan government."



"Increased our sales: We sold #34,500 of jewelry, started our Emerge Agent program, and bolstered our online store (nearly tripling our fourth quarter online sales)."

"Created a community of university supporters: In the United States, we launched our first five student chapters."


"Partnered with a US designer: We worked with Gorjana to create a lotus charm necklace that symbolizes the strength of our participants and benefits Emerge Global."


"Developed our brand: Every necklace now has a signature lotus bead. We also redesigned our tags and introduced color seasons into our jewelry line."

"Participated in four weddings: Former participants' work was commissioned in several of our supporters' special days."


"...and, most important of all, we celebrated the beauty, strength, and goals of 98 amazing girls."

"Photos courtesy of Clare Bayley, Gorjana, Aaron Schmidt and the Emerge Team"

Read more »

Happy Holidays from the Emerge Team

Posted by Alia on Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Read more »

You + Emerge Global = Empowered Girls in Sri Lanka

Posted by Raffaela on Friday, December 18, 2009

Dearest Emerge Family,

As 2009 comes to a close, all of Emerge Global would like to thank you for your support. Your generosity has given us the opportunity to reach nearly 100 girls this year who have survived abuse, helping them to celebrate their own sense of beauty and self-worth, save for their futures, develop their financial literacy, and begin to generate ideas for their own businesses. If you have not already, we hope you will support our goal of expanding our Program to more girls in 2010 by contributing to Emerge Global this holiday season.

It's incredible how far we've come in the last year. This year alone we've worked with 98 girls, sold more than $34,000 of jewelry, packaged our curriculum, launched a life skills speaker series, partnered with the Sri Lankan government to bring our program to 25 new girls, and expanded our team in the United States through our Emerge Agent and Emerge Chapter programs. In 2008, girls made as much as $660 in savings. This year, program participants have generated as much as $1,800, which will support them, and in some cases their children, as they start their adult life outside of the center in which they currently live. Your support made this possible,but there's still much to do to sustain, improve, and expand our Program.

We have a successful sales model but are in need of more jewelry supplies to use in our new partnership. We have a list of life skills speakers but need funding to pay for this expansion of our programming. We have a basic apartment that serves dually as an office and a living space for our three dedicated volunteers on the ground in Sri Lanka, but we need funding to cover their basic living expenses. And, while the government is eager for us to expand to more of their homes, we don't have the financial resources to reach them (yet!).

Getting involved is easy. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be counted towards the 2009 tax year if made before January 1, 2010.Gifts of every size make an impact:

• $25 can provide a girl leaving our program with her own set of toolsandsupplies to continue making jewelry
• $100 can cover the cost of holding two life skills workshops with Bead Program participants on CPR, infant first aid, and other valuableskills
• $250 can sponsor a girl for the year,providing the approximate cost ofrunning the program for one participant, as well as a birthday andholiday gift
• $800 can cover Emerge's personnel administrative costs mandated by theSri Lankan government for an entire year
  

You can donate online or by check. Checks should be made payable to "Emerge Global" andmailed to:

Emerge Global
515 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215

If you are interested in sponsoring a girl, please return our sponsorship packet, which can be downloaded here.

As an integral part of our story, we ask that you take part in buildinga safe, nurturing, and inspirational reality for the girls with whom we work. Every donation makes an impact. For those of you who have already contributed, we cannot thank you enough. Together, the Emerge story will continue to evolve.

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays! Read more »