A bracelet of HOPE

While staying at the beach we befriended some of the locals and we look forward to seeing them each time we go. Many of them work hard all day long trying to sell woven baskets or colorful friendship bracelets and anklets that they have made. I really had no idea how little money they had to live on until a couple of years ago when I learned of the unthinkable abuses to which many children were being subjected – all in the name of putting food on the table! Many poor families flock to the popular vacation destinations, hoping to cash in on money being spent by wealthy tourists. Some of these families, upon realizing that they still cannot generate enough income by vending on the beaches, make the desperate choice to sell their children into prostitution. Since it is an underground market, I wasn’t aware it was happening until some of our local friends informed me. Suddenly my eyes were opened and I could see the telltale signs.

Our friends have made a tough, but right choice! Instead of being lured by the money that could be made at the cost of their children’s innocence, the whole family works hard selling what they can to the tourists on the beach to provide the most basic of necessities. They are often viewed as a nuisance since most people don’t want to be bothered while they are on vacation, but they persevere in the hope of finding someone who will buy their wares.

Recently we were invited to the house of one of our friends. We hiked for about 40 minutes, much of it on a path straight up the side of a mountain. When we came to their house we were humbled to see two elderly parents and several children living in a very small shack made out of materials they probably found. When we arrived, the father sent one of the boys up a nearby coconut tree to retrieve a coconut so that we could be refreshed from our hike. They had very little, but what they had they shared liberally!

I was moved by their circumstances and wanted to help, but knew they wouldn’t take money without giving something in return. So I told them I wanted to buy $100 dollars worth of bracelets and that I would pick them up next time I was there. This was a lot of money for them and I confess that I wasn’t totally convinced I would ever see the bracelets or the money again, but that was ok, they needed it far more than we did!

But true to their word, next time I arrived they presented me with 1300 bracelets! I was surprised at how many they gave me and asked how many they could make in an hour. They said, “If we are not lazy, we can average about four an hour.” After some quick calculations, I realized they were charging a mere eight cents per piece and thought that meant they were only making 32 cents an hour! When I pointed this out to them they were embarrassed that I thought they were making a whole 32 cents an hour and informed me that the cost of the materials was three cents per piece, making their profit five cents per piece and hourly wage 20 cents! I was a little more than choked up when they thanked me for providing their family with a GOOD source of income for an entire month!

At the time, I wasn’t sure what I would do with all the bracelets, but I took them and went on my way. I brought them to the U.S. with me and decided to take them to our family camp that summer where they agreed to see if they would sell in their store. In three days, 500 were sold at $1.00 apiece to a camp population of about 200 people and the remaining bracelets were sold the following weeks! Over $1000 was made from the initial $100 investment!

At this point, I realized the potential to change the desperate conditions and choices facing many people each day here in the Philippines. If we can find a large enough market for these bracelets, we can help bring back a sense of dignity to a people who are clinging to a thread of hope.

It is not my intention to profit from the sale of these bracelets, but to return the proceeds by providing schooling, medical care and nutrition to those that don’t have the resources to do it on their own. With the money that has been made so far, we have been able to help one girl go to school and provide a steady, honorable income to some struggling families.”