ESTEVAN - Jacqueline Peeace, who grew up in Estevan, got involved with Woven International about three years ago. Ever since, her life's been dedicated to helping women and girls in 小蓝视频east Asia who have been impacted by trauma, abuse and exploitation.
For the third time, Peeace came to Estevan seeking support for the non-profit organization devoted to breaking the cycle of human trafficking in 小蓝视频east Asia, and once again the community didn't disappoint.
Her pop-up jewellery store helps raise money to provide care, safe housing and safe work opportunities to vulnerable women and girls.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Peeace had a variety of unique items for sale at the Estevan Alliance Church, and on Friday the store was moved to Michael's Coffee Shop.
"We're selling jewellery from Woven International," said Peeace. "We have safe homes, and we have safe work opportunities for girls who are either coming out of exploitation or who are at risk. And so one of our safe work opportunities for them is creating jewellery."
She added that lots of the girls in their program depend on the jewellery program to send money back to their families and to stay out of the industry.
"It's a really beautiful project for people to partner with and have a tangible piece of the project. So that's part of the reason why we sell the jewellery is to tell the story to support the girls. And then also for people here in Canada to raise awareness, but also to have a very tangible piece of something so powerful as part of what we're doing here."
Peeace pointed out that with a purchase, each buyer can either support a corporation or choose to use their money to support an organization that is empowering women.
"(Our project) is also telling a story of hope. Girls who were in a situation that was quite dark, or they were in exploitation or didn't have a lot of hope, they are now in a place where they can create, where they can have safe and dignified means of income," Peeace said.
Everything offered in a pop-up jewellery store was created by women in the program and shipped to Canada. Some teachers live with the participants and show them the styles and techniques, but production isn't the only point of the program.
"Jewellery starts initially as a therapy because there's a lot of soft skills and healing that can happen through creation … and that's part of why we do the jewellery," Peeace said.
The jewellery is designed by local people, which is why the styles are unique. Some styles are used more, and some pieces were developed by the program participants and are named after women that created them. Some pieces are one of a kind.
Peeace became involved with Woven International a few years ago when looking for an internship while in business school.
"I was trying to find (an internship) that was unique and different (from working for) a corporation and just fill out data. So I ended up 小蓝视频 connected to Woven through the pastor of the (Alliance) Church at the time. He knew someone who knew the director of the organization who said that they were looking for business interns, and so now I'm here," Peeace said.
She volunteered with Woven for two years and lived in 小蓝视频east Asia for about six months. Starting January 2021, she started working full-time with them. She also noted that the project participants are paid for their work, but all of their foreign staff has to fundraise their salaries.
"It's important for (donors) to know that we don't have a huge portion of our budget going to administration and salaries. All 100 per cent of donations actually go straight to the project," Peeace said.
It was steadily busy at the store first two days. Many people bought some of the pieces, while others just provided some donations for the cause. Peeace said the support from Estevan was great, making her feel proud of the community she grew up in.
"It's quite humbling. It's one thing to grow up in a community, but to then go away and come back, and to be so embraced, and to have my work and this project that is so dear to me to be accepted and supported and encouraged so generously, it's a very humbling feeling for me," Peeace shared.
"I am always pleasantly, not surprised, but I am always so proud of our community. Because I think we have such a strong value for supporting local and supporting organizations that are doing work like we are, like supporting other people and empowering women. I'm very proud of our community because they support others and we take care of our own sector. And I think it's beautiful every time I come back, whether I'm fundraising or if I'm selling jewellery, I'm always met with a lot of support," Peeace said.
Peeace, who now resides in Calgary, will be staying in Estevan for another week and she might have a pop-up store at Alliance Church next week as well, but that has yet to be decided yet.
On Friday the pop-up store will be held in Michael's coffeeshop from 1-8 p.m.
