I’m not a big gift giver, nor a shopper, but when I find sites like One Good Thing that sell cool stuff that  contributes directly to the livelihoods of people, the purchase is a no-brainer.

Amongst the things I bought was some jewellery made by artisans from shrapnel left behind in Laos after the Vietnam War. One Good Thing sources these from Article 22.

Between 1964 and 1973, the US dropped more than two million tonnes of bombs on Laos; that’s nearly a tonne for every person in the country, making it one of the most bombed countries in the world relative to population. One-third of these bombs did not explode. Today, workers are spending their days locating, detonating and disposing these bombs. The bombs have left many lands no longer possible to farm, and they are a daily threat to children who might pick them up to play with.

You will see that the jewellery although very simple, is not cheap, so it’s important to note that buying it helps clean the land of the bombs, and in turn provide artisans new scraps of metal to make more jewellery. Artisans get paid four times the market rate for jewellery sold through Article 22. Article 22 also donates to the village development fund that pays for electricity in communal areas, and gives micro loans to poor families.

It is beautiful how they have converted the remnants of a horrible experience into something positive. More on the story behind PeaceBomb jewellery can be found here.

This is just one example of the items One Good Thing sells. Every item on the site has a story worth knowing about and contributing to. The site is the lovechild of Bridgett and Mike, who quit their corporate jobs to pursue their desire to do something impactful. More on their story and what led them to start One Good Thing, here.

I truly believe that buying what gives back is the best way to buy, especially gifts. And for me, wearing the jewellery every day is a constant reminder to give back. So next time you look to buy, buy for change. #startwithsomething