Organization Celebrates Supporting Oppressed Women Globally - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Monterey, Calif.- Dedicated to reducing poverty, trafficking and other horrific conditions for women locally and globally and to economically empower them, Rising International celebrates it's 10th anniversary this year. Central Coast News was honored to attend the 5th annual Hands of Hope luncheon.

The event brought men and women together to celebrate women's empowerment and to inspire them to economically support women artisans from 20 countries using the popular 'home party' model. 

Over 400 people attended and heard from world renowned speakers in support of women and girls from Monterey to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Founder and Executive Director Carmel Judd from Monterey noted in her comments Tuesday that women in developing countries are severely victimized but there are countless examples of women around the world that have risen above their circumstances. Judd says that's the foundation of Rising International are men and women everywhere who decided to step up to help these women change their lives.

"On an uplifting note, we can actually do something about this...you can buy something from one of these women and change everything for her." Rising International purchases their crafts and makes them available to entrepreneurs within their network, who in turn use the 'house party' model to create a business for themselves. Rising International is the first non-profit to use the 'home party' model to sell crafts by the world's poorest women.

Judd says that the average composite hourly wage for a Rising International business person is 29 dollars an hour. 

Judd says, "I created Rising International so that all of us could change the world from our living rooms. Everything you purchase on our website or at our home parties impacts a life."