4 years ago, I was a part of a fiber arts class at my high school. For our final project, we needed to make either a doll or stuffed animal, & I chose to make a doll, using as many recycled materials as possible in its creation. Turns out this little choice set something huge in motion.
Not long after, I found myself in Nicaragua where my family had moved for 6 months, & I encountered poverty like we just don’t see in the US. My heart broke for all the girls that I saw who felt insignificant and worthless, a feeling I was all too familiar with during this time in my life. I wanted to do something to make an impact, but I was not even 15 yet. How was I equipped to make a difference?
It’s the starfish story, right? A man walks down the beach. …show more content…
So, Buy-A-Doll-Give-A-Doll.
For every doll I sell, I make a 2nd, to give away to a girl in need, but I know they don’t last forever. So how can I give something that is timeless & eternal?
How about when I give a doll, I also look them in the eyes & tell them some truths about themselves: That they are Beautiful, Loved, Special, One-of-a-Kind, and Created-for-a-Purpose. A tag with this message is attached to every single Oli-Bo-Bolly Dolly.
I began to sell dolls out of the trunk of my mom’s car. 4 local businesses began selling them too. I couldn’t make the dolls quick enough, & I had another idea – Could I hire women in Nicaragua to sew the “give dolls”? Would I be able to somehow empower them by teaching them to make the dolls, & then be able to give them a dignified wage, too?
2 years ago, I returned to Nicaragua where I hosted dolly give away parties & several sewing workshops, where I learned that the truths on the tag are not only for the girls who receive the dolls, but for the women who make them, too. From these workshops, I hired a project manager & 7 seamstresses to begin local …show more content…
I hope it is plain to see though, that this is so much bigger than me, my skills, or the hours I am given each day. At 15, I knew nothing about starting an international business! I found beauty in the community support I found each day. It is so important to be there for one another!
I went in with no intentions of starting a business or developing a ministry, but I went all in once I heard my calling. I encourage you to go into all your activities with open eyes and a heart wide open. Ready for something you can do to make a difference. At 14 I found out that my story was important and because I was going through some hard things, I had the capacity to see those feeling as broken as I was. My story truly had purpose, to create a change.
Do you remember the Starfish Story? I think about that story every day and want to impact as many “this ones” as possible.
I want to encourage you today, to think about a “this one” in your life. Who is it that you can personally make a difference for in your life? How can you spread the beauty of being loved and empowered?
While you are pondering this, I will leave you with a message.
Eyes up class and know that you are beautiful, you are loved, you are one of a kind, you are special, & you are made for a purpose.
Thank
Not long after, I found myself in Nicaragua where my family had moved for 6 months, & I encountered poverty like we just don’t see in the US. My heart broke for all the girls that I saw who felt insignificant and worthless, a feeling I was all too familiar with during this time in my life. I wanted to do something to make an impact, but I was not even 15 yet. How was I equipped to make a difference?
It’s the starfish story, right? A man walks down the beach. …show more content…
So, Buy-A-Doll-Give-A-Doll.
For every doll I sell, I make a 2nd, to give away to a girl in need, but I know they don’t last forever. So how can I give something that is timeless & eternal?
How about when I give a doll, I also look them in the eyes & tell them some truths about themselves: That they are Beautiful, Loved, Special, One-of-a-Kind, and Created-for-a-Purpose. A tag with this message is attached to every single Oli-Bo-Bolly Dolly.
I began to sell dolls out of the trunk of my mom’s car. 4 local businesses began selling them too. I couldn’t make the dolls quick enough, & I had another idea – Could I hire women in Nicaragua to sew the “give dolls”? Would I be able to somehow empower them by teaching them to make the dolls, & then be able to give them a dignified wage, too?
2 years ago, I returned to Nicaragua where I hosted dolly give away parties & several sewing workshops, where I learned that the truths on the tag are not only for the girls who receive the dolls, but for the women who make them, too. From these workshops, I hired a project manager & 7 seamstresses to begin local …show more content…
I hope it is plain to see though, that this is so much bigger than me, my skills, or the hours I am given each day. At 15, I knew nothing about starting an international business! I found beauty in the community support I found each day. It is so important to be there for one another!
I went in with no intentions of starting a business or developing a ministry, but I went all in once I heard my calling. I encourage you to go into all your activities with open eyes and a heart wide open. Ready for something you can do to make a difference. At 14 I found out that my story was important and because I was going through some hard things, I had the capacity to see those feeling as broken as I was. My story truly had purpose, to create a change.
Do you remember the Starfish Story? I think about that story every day and want to impact as many “this ones” as possible.
I want to encourage you today, to think about a “this one” in your life. Who is it that you can personally make a difference for in your life? How can you spread the beauty of being loved and empowered?
While you are pondering this, I will leave you with a message.
Eyes up class and know that you are beautiful, you are loved, you are one of a kind, you are special, & you are made for a purpose.
Thank