Meet Evelyn

Evelyn and her son, Mario.

Evelyn and her son, Mario.

Evelyn sits on a stool in her living room, bent over a length of chain as she attaches paper beads to it one by one. She picks up each bead, holds it up to catch the daylight streaming through her window, and scrutinizes it. Any defect, and she'll put it aside. She wants this necklace to be perfect.

Her young son, Mario, sleeps tied to her back. He won't sleep unless he's near her, and when he's awake, he's constantly underfoot. Sometimes, making jewelry with her son demanding so much attention is difficult, she says, but she presses on.

Evelyn's daughter, Maris, sits on their dirt floor, watching the family's two chickens make their way through the living room. She's waiting for her friends to return from school. She should have started lessons this year, but the fees were just too steep. Only Evelyn's eldest son, Michael, will be attending school this year.

Evelyn hopes Tuli will change that.

Evelyn with her children, Mario, Maris, and Michael.

Evelyn with her children, Mario, Maris, and Michael.

We began working with Evelyn in May 2014. We met her at a market in Kampala, where she was trying to sell her jewelry to shoppers, but having little luck. Some months, she'd make only a few dollars, she said. Occasionally, she'd make around $20, and those were the months that saved her. 

One year ago, Evelyn's husband left her with their two kids and one on the way. It was a Saturday morning. He got up that morning, and without a word, strode from the house. He never came back.

We spent about a month with Evelyn, getting to know her and her children as we made jewelry with her and trained her to join our team. One day, we asked her what her dream was.

"I want all three of my children to go to school," she said. "I do not have my dream; I have dreams for my children. If I can take care of them, and do not fail to send them to school, I am happy."

But, she added, she would like to one day pour cement flooring in her home and maybe even have running water.

Evelyn is quick to smile and wired with kindness. Her home is a bit of a hub for her neighbors, who stop by several times a day to say hello. She chats with all of them, offers food when she has it, and is genuinely interested to hear about their lives. She seldom speaks of herself.

She lives by a mantra, which is scribbled on a piece of paper tapped to her wall as a reminder: "Don't complain about your problems to other people. Most of them have been through worse than you. Trust God; he cares."

When we gave Evelyn her first month's pay for working with Tuli, her eyes filled with tears. She made us promise to tell our customers how much their support means to her and her family.

"Everything has changed," she said.

Mario and Mari play in their home as their mother makes beads one afternoon.

Mario and Mari play in their home as their mother makes beads one afternoon.

Evelyn hangs strings of freshly painted beads to dry in her backyard.

Evelyn hangs strings of freshly painted beads to dry in her backyard.

Collaboration: Tuli and Runway to Freedom

 
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We couldn't be more excited to announce our collaboration with a nonprofit organization that, like Tuli, uses fashion to create big change: Runway to Freedom, an annual fashion show held in Seattle that fights domestic violence. 

This year, proceeds from the show will benefit Mary's Place, a women's shelter in Seattle.

At Tuli, we  believe just as much in offering support overseas as we do in our own backyard. We're based in Seattle, and helping the women in our own community is profoundly important to us. We hope our neighbors in the city will enjoy seeing our products -- as well of those from other awesome companies and designers -- at the show.

Domestic violence is a big concern, both locally and globally. Many of the women we partner with in Uganda suffered years of physical and emotional abuse before leaving or being left by their husbands. These women tell us that, even though feeding their children is harder with only one income, escaping the abuse brought them a new life.

Similarly, in the U.S., domestic violence is an all-too-common crime. Sheriff's offices and police departments are inundated daily with calls about domestic violence incidents. One in four women will experience domestic violence abuse, according to Safe Horizon, a domestic violence support organization. We encourage you to learn about the legal, economic, and psychological challenges that come with domestic violence here.

Tuli has its roots in Seattle, and because of that, is familiar with both of these outstanding organizations. Before Tuli was founded, I walked as a model in Runway to Freedom and met Lauren Grinnell, the founder of the show, who has raised more than $10,000 to help survivors of domestic violence. She was among the first of Tuli's inspirations.

Around that time, I also volunteered at Mary's Place, the women's shelter that will receive proceeds from this year's show. During my time there, I met women who are more tenacious, intelligent, and all-around exceptional than I could ever hope to be. I saw firsthand how the shelter works to empower the women it serves to rise out of homelessness, rather than to simply hand out one-time aid. They were another of Tuli's early inspirations.

Please join us in extending your support to both of these phenomenal organizations. Seattle neighbors, please consider attending the show (and look for some sweet Tuli products in your swag bags!). Other friends, please visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline's website for more information about domestic violence and for resources about how to get help.

The 5th annual Runway to Freedom show will be held on Nov. 14 at the Showbox Market in Seattle. Visit the Runway to Freedom website for more information and for tickets.