#10FreeDays: Day 10 - Last Day of 10FreeDays

Today is the final day of the #10FreeDays campaign, and I wanted to share what has been accomplished so far, in just 9 days... 

First and foremost, thank you for joining me as we learned about the horror of human trafficking in Nepal and what Our Daughters International is doing to fight against it. We journeyed the Restoration Pathway that is followed by our daughters as they transform from victims of trafficking to leaders for the empowerment of women and societal change in Nepal. 

Enough funds have been raised so that over 420 girls will be rescued and restored due to the generous support received from over 1,350 friends and family during #10freedays. An additional 110 girls will be rescued by the Matching Gift grant provided by RB Nordick Foundation that was earned by exceeding the overall campaign goals. That is a total of 530 girls that will receive assistance and education through the safe home, training center, and educational programs at Our Daughters International - and there is still one more day left in the campaign.

I've been honored to share the Our Daughters International stories and mission on my blog, which you can read all 10 days here: https://whitneyfields.blogspot.com/search/label/%2310FreeDays

Today’s video has Ramesh providing a personal “thank you” from Kathmandu! Watch here: https://vimeo.com/405898432/3e14c4f498

 

Since 2009, Our Daughters International has counseled over 130,000 girls and women at the border between Nepal and India. Over 11,000 have been rescued.  Thank you for joining the fight by supporting me as an Activist for #10freedays. Together, we have given hope and purpose to hundreds of our daughters in Nepal. 

You can still join the fight and help rescue even more girls by clicking on the link below.

I am 70% of the way to my personal goal - with $90 to go! Seriously, every dollar matters. My goal is to hit the $300 mark, which rescues, restores, and educates one more woman... one more future business owner... one more future community leader... one more change-maker!

Please donate here today (campaign ends August 10): http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

Thank you so much!

#10FreeDays: Day 9 - Elegantees... Making an Impact for Daughters

Over 1,300 donors have responded to rescuing and restoring daughters in Nepal. We have raised enough to rescue over 390 girls. There is one more day left in our #10freedays campaign! 

Welcome to Day 9 of #10freedays. It is fulfilling our purpose at it's best when someone uses the talents they have been blessed with for the benefit of others. Katie Martinez, the co-founder of #10freedays and owner of the online fashion brand, Elegantees, is a wonderful example of someone living with purpose! Sustainable income is a key component in the battle against trafficking in Nepal and Katie provides that to over 20 daughters at the Kingdom Hope Garment Factory.

Katie is donating the profits of Sunday's Elegantees sales to Our Daughters International. One of the wonderful things about her garments is that the products are sewn by our own rescued daughters in Nepal. Please browse her online store at elegantees.com. Enjoy shopping, and check out today's video which highlights the garment factory supported by Katie's business.

Amazing things can happen when like-minded, passionate people collaborate. Ramesh Sapkota, Our Daughters International President, and Katie Martinez, Founder of clothing company Elegantees and the 10freedays campaign, met in 2011. From there, they dreamed of working together to provide meaningful employment for girls rescued and restored from human trafficking in Nepal. That dream resulted in the launching of the Kingdom Hope Garment Factory which now employs over 20 daughters who manufacture the designs of Elegantees.

"I am very happy to work here because before I thought that I could not do anything for myself. I was completely wrong. Now I can live for myself and support my family" - daughter employed @ Kingdom Hope Garment Factory

Today, Ramesh will welcome you to Kingdom Hope Garment Factory via video (watch here: https://vimeo.com/405898061/aadfbb2d13). Plus, Katie has agreed to donate the profits of Sunday's Elegantees sales to Our Daughters International! Please click on this link, https://www.ourdaughtersinternational.org/elegantees, to learn more about Elegantees and to make your purchase to support Our Daughters International.

Thanks to those of you who have supported me in my fundraising efforts. For the rest of you, please consider giving today and contributing to my fundraising goal through this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

#10FreeDays: Day 8 - A Daughter Shares Her Story of Restoration

Every trafficked girl deserves to be rescued and restored. She deserves having hope and a purpose for her life. Even though we have exceeded all expectations for #10freedays, let's keep sharing her story and FINISH STRONG!

We have raised enough to rescue 375 girls... and we're going for 450 over the last 3 days of 10freedays.

More exciting news... the Matching Gift challenge has been met. An additional 110 girls will be rescued with the $33,000 earned from the RB Nordick Foundation's generous challenge.

Day 8 of our campaign is a very special day because we get to hear from one of our daughters herself! Today, you will meet Karuna. She is a very special daughter who has been restored and has committed her life to keep her sisters in Nepal from enduring the pain she has suffered. She, and her Nepali sisters, are why I have committed to the 10 days to join the fight against trafficking in Nepal.

Meet Karuna! She is one of the thousands of girls that have been rescued and restored by Our Daughters International in Nepal. She will share her story of how she was rescued and is now dedicating her life to save her sisters in Nepal. She is a powerful social activist bringing anti-trafficking awareness to the girls and women of Nepal and boldly sharing her story of pain, as a platform for societal change.

 

Watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/405897549/4d7029166e

Rescuing and restoring girls like Karuna is why I became an Activist for #10freedays. I know this campaign is so important as it provides the resources for giving hope and a purpose to Karuna and hundreds of girls like her. 

🤜🤛 Please join me in the fight against trafficking by contributing to my fundraising goal through this link (also easily accessible in my LinkTree) now through August 10: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

✨ As an alternative to donating, you can also shop for a cause 🛍️ through my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖

#10FreeDays: Day 6 - Launching Micro-Businesses to Become Community Leaders

We have exceeded our #10freedays goal of rescuing 300 girls from trafficking in Nepal in just 5 days!! Over 225 Activists have engaged 1,100 donors to raise over $94,000!

How many more can we rescue in the 2nd half of #10freedays?

Today is Day 6 of our #10freedays campaign. Did you know the funds we raise not only rescue girls and provide them with care and counseling but also send them back into the community as owners of micro-businesses? This step empowers our daughters, earning them respect and virtually eliminates their chances of being re-trafficked. Thank you for your commitment to continue sharing about how Our Daughters International is transforming lives.

Meet Priska, the Business Manager, who shepherds our daughters as they establish their micro-businesses. The types of businesses include tailoring, salons, cafés, markets, and butchering. This step in their journey is so important because these micro-businesses allow our daughters to become self-sufficient and therefore at less risk of being re-trafficked. Having a successful micro-business is the first step in our daughter becoming a leader for change in her community.

Watch Priska's video here: https://vimeo.com/405897161/e2e9ab589e

 

I am so excited to be an Activist for #10freedays and to know that this campaign is such an important component of support as our daughters step-out to become leaders. Thanks for your willingness to join me.

🤜🤛 Please join me in the fight against trafficking by contributing to my fundraising goal through this link now through August 10: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

✨ As an alternative to donating, you can also shop for a cause 🛍️ through my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖

#10FreeDays: Day 5 - Our Daughters are Transformed

Welcome to Day 5, the halfway point of our #10freedays campaign. We have raised over $90,290 with the help of almost 1000 donors!

Over 300 girls will be rescued in Nepal from our efforts so far!!

We are so grateful to all of the donors for helping us achieve our total campaign goal after only 4 days. There are still 5 more days left of this campaign - so let's keep going! 

Every dollar raised above my personal goal of $300 will be matched dollar for dollar (until the campaign reaches an additional $33,000!).

Today, I will share how ODI helps transform trafficking victims by providing them with instruction and education at our training center. This is crucial so our daughters can move through our program and exit feeling confident that they will have a way to provide for themselves. Please help us continue to spread the word about Our Daughters International.

After graduating from the Safe Home, our daughters are welcomed into the Training Center. Ratina will share an introduction to the Training Center in today’s video: https://vimeo.com/405896741/7632c3c3e4

During their 6-9 month stay, our daughters develop the job skills necessary to launch their own micro-business. The Training Center can house up to 40 daughters at a time and it is here that they grow strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many of the daughters attend the Social Leadership Development School, which develops their ability to be powerful anti-trafficking advocates upon returning to their community.

As a woman who has owned her own business for 10 years, this particular aspect of the rescue process is my favorite. Helping a woman launch something of her own is truly empowering. 

Having designed two "Whitney" tees with Elegantees, which provides employment to rescued women in the Kingdom of Hope Sewing Center, I'm so proud to be sharing my business headshots wearing one of those tops.

 

Photos were taken by Brook Todd.

 

Being a #10freedays Activist is allowing me to give our daughters a PURPOSE for their lives, and I’m asking you to please join me in transforming the futures of so many girls in Nepal.

🤜🤛 Please join me in this fight against trafficking by contributing to my fundraising goal through this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

✨ As an alternative way to donate, you can also shop for a cause 🛍️ through my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖

#10FreeDays: Day 4 - She is Now Our Daughter

Today is Day 4 of our #10freedays campaign. Here is an update on how we're doing after Day 3. As of 9:00 pm last night (8/3), we have raised just over $75,000 with the help of 204 activists!

That enough to rescue 250 girls from trafficking in Nepal!!

Day 4: How a survivor rescued at the border officially becomes "our daughter" in the safe home.

Trafficking survivors become our daughters! What a powerful image… one that motivated me to become an activist for #10freedays and Our Daughters International.

 

Survivors that cannot be reunited with their families, become “our daughters” and are welcomed into the Safe Home where they receive intense trauma counseling, health assessments, care, and love.  Most feel a sense of HOPE for the first time in their lives. As a daughter, they discover their identity and realize they are worthy. During their 2-3 month stay in the Safe Home, the daughters are given skills training as part of their therapy. 

Meet Kamika in today’s video: https://vimeo.com/405896415/0ebca7739b. Last year alone, Kamika and her team welcomed 95 daughters into the Safe Home. 

🤜🤛 Please join me in this fight against trafficking by contributing to my fundraising goal through this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

✨ As an alternative way to donate, you can also shop for a cause 🛍️ my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖

I have styled my favorite Elegantees' Hudson tee in olive/ivory stripes with a few of my favorite pieces from our current Stella & Dot and Keep collection! Elegantees partners with ODI to provide employment to women in the Kingdom Hope Garment Factory in Nepal.

Elegantees' HUDSON v-neck stripe tee in Olive/Ivory, Filigree Chandelier Earrings, Heritage Coin Pendant Necklace, Renegade Stacking Bracelet

Elegantees' HUDSON v-neck stripe tee in Olive/Ivory, Mini Coin Pendant Necklace, Namesake Short Charm Necklace with charms: Keep "W" Initial, Pearl and Keep Rounded April Birthstones, Delicate Long Link Charm Necklace

#10FreeDays: Day 3 - Victims are now Survivors

Together, our #10freedays Activist Team Has Raised Enough Funds To Rescue 200 Girls!

As we enter Day 3 of our #10freedays campaign, I want to celebrate that 178 Activists combined have raised $60,000 in just two days. Our efforts are literally going to change the trajectory of these young women's lives forever.

Our Daughters International rescues trafficking victims at the border between Nepal and India. Potential trafficking victims are interviewed and counseled regarding their purpose of going to India and the dangers of being trafficked. Since 2009, over 130,000 girls have been interviewed, with over 11,000 actually rescued from trafficking. These victims have now become survivors! 

For over 8 years, Usha has been working at one of the border stations. She has rescued hundreds of girls. 

Meet her in today’s video:

Last year alone, over 20,000 girls were interviewed and 1,035 were rescued. I want to help rescue more and that’s why I joined #10freedays as an Activist. You can help victims become survivors by donating today.

🤜🤛 Please join me in this fight against trafficking by donating toward my fundraising goal through this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields

✨ As an alternative way to donate, you can also shop for a cause 🛍️ my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖

I have styled my favorite Elegantees (the clothing company that partners with ODI to provide employment to women in the  Kingdom Hope Garment Factory in Nepal) tops with a few of my favorite pieces from our current Stella & Dot and Keep collection!

Elegantees' SITA twist front tee in Black, Delicate Pave Heart Studs, Diamond Covet "W" Necklace, Mini Coin Pendant Necklace, Heritage Coin Pendant Necklace, Renegade Stacking Bracelet

Elegantees' HUDSON v-neck stripe tee in Black/Ivory, Target shoes, Filigree Chandelier Earrings, Leopard Print Crossbody, Renegade Stacking Bracelet, Diamond Covet "W" Necklace, Delicate Long Link Charm Necklace, Namesake Short Charm Necklace with charms: Keep "W" Initial, Pearl and Keep Rounded April Birthstones

#10FreeDays: Day 2 - She is a Victim

Before moving on to Day 2 of our #10freedays campaign, let's celebrate how Day 1 went. Almost $49,000 has been raised... ENOUGH TO RESCUE 163 GIRLS THROUGH DAY 1! 

Incredible work. Thank you to all the donors so far. We still have more work to do. 🙏🏻 

Day 2: Today, we will look at why a young woman is at risk of becoming a victim of trafficking in Nepal, and how easy it is for predators to trick them into unimaginable horrors. Thankfully, there are men and women like YOU that are here to expose these lies and to set the record straight.  

An estimated 25,000 to 35,000 girls are trafficked from Nepal to India and beyond each year. Girls are tricked and persuaded by the promises of traffickers who build false relationships with them. They are promised a better life in a faraway land only to end up in a brothel in India or in the Middle East. Once in a brothel, victims can be sold to men up to 30 times per day. 

In today’s video, Allison will share why girls in Nepal are susceptible to the trafficker’s lies. 

🤜🤛 Please join me in this fight against trafficking by helping me meet my fundraising goal through this link (also easily accessible in my LinkTree): http://weblink.donorperfect.com/OurDaughtersInternational/10freedays2020/WhitneyFields 

✨ As an alternative way to donate, you can also shop 🛍️ my Stella & Dot fundraising link: www.stelladot.com/ts/nk9rj - and for every $50 sold, I'll donate $5 of my commission to the cause! 💖 (It just exceeded its first $50 increment!)

Wearing Elegantees' Hudson Tee,  Target shoes, Accessories (available in my e-boutique, through the online fundraiser): Diamond Covet "W" Necklace, Leopard Print Crossbody, Renegade Stacking Bracelet, Delicate Long Link Charm Necklace, Namesake Short Charm Necklace with charms: Keep "W" Initial, Pearl and Keep Rounded April Birthstones

Celebrating the 1-Year Anniversary of Polka Dot Powerhouse - Austin

As we quickly approach the Polka Dot Powerhouse - 1 Year Anniversary Party to celebrate our first year as a chapter in Austin (and currently the only chapter in Texas), I was inspired by a Facebook post from fellow Managing Director Elaine Turso, who shared many sentiments about this incredible group of women! I'm paraphrasing much of a post she shared last month, but she said it so nicely, I didn't want to change it up too much! ;)

Do you know what question I hear the most when I see many of my Facebook friends in real life? "What is this Polka Dot Powerhouse thing you're doing?"

Here's the best way I can describe it: I have the privilege of meeting up with unique, smart and driven women (mostly business owners of some sort) several times a month in-person and online (or over the phone).

I have the opportunity to connect with them one-on-one because that is where the real magic happens. Getting to know women and their families, along with their background and their business/profession is so amazing. Then I try to collaborate with them or connect them with other women (and men) in the community or in my personal network who could help them grow or utilize their business/service. As the Managing Director, I just provide the space and facilitate the meetups each month!

Are we a networking group? Kind of but not really. We are a CONNECTION company.

"Networking" can sometimes be a scary word for people - and, based on their experiences, can sometimes come with a negative connotation. This group of women has shown me the importance of connection before business.

People aren't interested in what you do until you are interested in them as a person. Polka Dot Powerhouse has shown me what it means to connect with other women without anything in return.  As a result, we all receive! We all want to help or support each other, refer and do business with those we trust and have built relationships and friendships with, and ultimately, find a tribe that empowers us.

These women, not only in Austin but also all over the country, have helped me become a better friend, businesswoman, connector, and human because of the relationships we've formed. We are a sisterhood. A tribe. We celebrate together. We support each other through the good times and the bad. We hang out and have fun together. We help each other learn, grow, be accountable and do our best.

Do you need more support in your life?

We are looking to grow this organization of warm, welcoming, positive, no-drama women throughout Austin and the nation. We are looking for other women to help facilitate a meeting place in other cities in Texas (and across the country). Who do you know? Maybe this is you?

What other questions do you have? I'm an open book! Please feel free to ask me in the comments below.

And friends, Dots, guests, anyone interested in meeting these fabulous women, please RSVP to come and celebrate with us on March 7!

Hope to connect with you soon!

Polka Dot Powerhouse Chapter Launching in Austin, TX

I'm thrilled to announce that I will be launching the Austin, Texas Chapter of the Polka Dot Powerhouse, a women's connection group, on Tuesday, February 28, 2017!

Currently, this is the only chapter in Texas, and we're hoping to expand to Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and all across the Lone Star State!

Our chapter is part of a growing national organization unlike others you may have encountered.  In Polka Dot, women business owners (small and large), entrepreneurs, corporate sales, consultants, and direct selling professionals discover a supportive and collaborative atmosphere, enabling you to grow yourself professionally and personally.

At our monthly meetings, also known as business connects, you'll meet like-minded women who establish long-term referral partnerships and alliances in addition to new clients. When you're a member, you'll find our upbeat environment allows you cultivate the best qualities of yourself while facilitating the same in others.  Dots, as we often refer to our members, love be authentic and tap into the best traits of womanhood.

Because the Austin chapter is launching, we have a limited number of spaces available for Founding Members! You must register as a member by February 20 to receive this honored title! Joining as a Founding Member also gets $50 off and 2 months extra on your membership (using the code PRELAUNCH).

A few of the perks of being an Austin Founding Member include this exclusive discount, additional membership months, a member spotlight and a special gift at our Launch, along with the opportunity to include your business marketing materials in our swag bag!

Polka Dot Powerhouse also has a substantial, active online presence through Facebook.  You'll meet women in our chapter and across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom... and we recently had our first international member join from Japan. With Facebook and the membership directory, you'll expand your community of companionable ladies who love to laugh, seek advice, uplift and challenge you to be the best woman you can be.

Once a year, you'll have the opportunity to meet many of our Dots at our National Celebration held over a 2-day conference, featuring educational seminars, keynote speakers and loads of spontaneous get-togethers. You'll walk away with a whole new group of sisters and cheerleaders supporting your journey at every step.

We invite you to attend our Launch Connect on Tuesday, February 28... mix and mingle will start at 6PM and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:30PM!

Register as a guest for the Launch Connect today: bit.ly/AustinPDPLaunch (limited seating available!) or visit the website for upcoming meeting dates here.

We hope you'll attend one of our meetings as a guest and see that this is the group you've needed all along, and "like" us on Facebook to keep updated with the latest news and information!