A tribute to the mothers of Gianna

How I met Gianna is a story I would save for another time, but meeting these Filipino women artisans who are behind some of Gianna Fair Trade‘s eco-friendly products is my story for the day.

It was March 26—incidentally, my Dad‘s death anniversary—a date which, for the past 4 years since he passed away, I’ve made a point to devote to a special cause. Gianna couldn’t possibly have an idea of that little detail, hence there was no doubt in my heart that it was God who caused everything that lead me to that day.

And what a day it was, indeed. You see, it’s one thing seeing Gianna Fair Trade’s products in the website, it’s another thing being right in the heart of its mission. There I was in what they call their office-slash-production-site somewhere in an urban poor community along Boni Avenue, in awe of all the labor of love and women empowerment happening in such a small space!

And I got to do what I enjoy most—capture moments in photographs! :)

Nanay Norma showed us how she makes ipad cases out of recycled billboards/tarps.
Know more about Nanay Norma here. (Oh, and yes, that’s Gianna right there.)

Nanay Lorilai showed us a sample of her masterpiece, a backpack, also made of recycled tarp.
Know more about Nanay Lorilai here.

Filipino women artisans of Gianna

Meet Dahlia and her newborn Archie. A young mother at age 20, her dreams mostly revolve around the future of her son. Know more about Dahlia here.

Gianna Fair Trade’s mission is to empower underprivileged women artisans from developing countries through education and sustainable commerce, giving these women a better chance at providing for their family and their kids, and ultimately in reaching their dreams.

As Gianna talked to the mothers about a plethora of topics—from raising kids, to Filipino values, to new product ideas, to quality control—I could only imagine how hard these women work in hopes of making a difference in the lives of their children, their families, and their community. Each one of these mothers has a story to tell, and Gianna makes sure that building relationships with them is a priority.

Gianna’s dream of helping these women chase their dreams hits close to home and fits right into my bucket list. I’m more than honored to be part of such a worthy cause, and would like to invite you (if, for whatever reason, you find yourself on this page) to contribute also to these women’s dreams. Message me or email me at riz [at] chasingdreams.net to know how.