A backpack, pens and pencils, a sharpener, crayons and colored pencils, a notebook; these are all standard school items that are inexpensive and sold at many stores, right? Well, unfortunately, for the families living in some of the poorest communities in the world, these are supplies that are actually costly and hard to come by. For many children, starting the school year with minimal supplies is a sad, but common reality. Lacking the common school essentials not only makes it difficult for these children to keep up with the rest of the class, but it can also instill feelings of shame and embarrassment. Struggling to keep pace with their classmates can easily give a child low self-esteem and make them lose hope in themselves and their education—later contributing to the growth of drop-out rates. I can attest to this, as I lived through it myself.
For so many years, I’ve had the immense desire to doing something—whether big or small—that would make a difference in the lives of those living in some of the poorest areas of the world; an earnestness which stemmed from my educational experience as a child. In the eyes of those living in areas of poverty, the small, simple things like a backpack are seen as an item of luxury, due to the limited availability and high price. For these reasons, Mirakitã makes a pledge to donate a portion of their sales to purchase school supplies and create backpack kits* for the children living in underprivileged communities throughout Brazil.
Twice a year, I travel to Brazil to meet with the artisans of Mirakitã. During my trips, I always make time to visit the schools so I can hand-deliver the backpack kits that are specially made from Mirakitã’s proceeds. I love seeing the sheer excitement that washes over these children when they given their very own backpack filled with all the supplies they need to help them get through school. The happiness they feel over a simple box of crayons is the reason why I support everything that Mirakitã stands for.
One of many reasons I wanted to focus on artisanal and handmade accessories, was so I could be more involved with the remote communities of Brazil. I want these bright, beautiful children to know that somewhere in this vast world, someone cares about them and their future. Though small to us, this is something that impacts them tremendously.
Mirakitã is such an incredibly special project, one that I hold close to my heart. It’s my dream to grow and expand this project to its greatest potential, something that can be accomplished with your help.
On behalf of Mirakitã and the children of Brazil, we thank you for your support.
*Our Backpack kits include 2 notepads, 1 ruler, 1 pair of scissors, 1 bottle of glue, 1 eraser, 1 sharpener, 2 pencils, 2 pens, 1 box of crayons, 1 box of colored pencils, and 1 backpack.
