She is beautiful, humble and thankful. As you enter her tiny home you sense the generosity and graciousness of the hostess. We sit cross legged on the bed that sleeps the family of five, and she pours out a warm cup of Chai. The irony of her smile draws you in as you listen to her story- you would never know that she has known such heart ache. She has not grown bitter, but thankful instead. Zara was married off when she was 16. She had no say and remembers being terrified- not having ever spoken to this young man that she would now call “Raja” or King. Now 10 years later she and her husband have 3 children and have become companions. She would say that it was the hardship that drew them together. After her Mother and Father in law died, they were left fighting for the very room they lived in. They sold off the little that they owned and struggled for years as work was difficult to find. Her eyes are downcast as she shares. Then she looks up and recounts how she had prayed for God to rescue them. Her eyes sparkle now as she shares of how her husband found work with Village Artisan and then she too took on their paper projects in her home. Now she says that their life has become blessed; the children can go to school, there is enough food and the fighting with her extended family has ceased now that they can pay their share of the bills. By purchasing a fair trade Village Artisan treasure you are joining hands with us to bring hope and empowerment into the lives of families like Zara’s.