Dear Laura,

Thank you so much for your generosity and support of women survivors of war, and for all you have done for your sister Neema ****** in DRC. We wanted to take this opportunity to send a quick reminder about her upcoming graduation; to thank you, share some steps you can take to celebrate along with her, and fill you in on what to expect in the coming months. 

What you have already accomplished!

Your support has created a new life for a woman you have never met - and for Neema C. the impact is simply immeasurable. As she makes her way toward graduation, she is stepping into a new life full of hope. The impact of your support through sponsorship is already visible by the time your sister graduates, and will continue to grow following her graduation.

Our surveys reveal that by the time sponsored sisters graduate: 

• Women have been able to nearly triple their average daily income, from $0.43 to $1.26
• 74% of sponsored sisters reported having knowledge of stress management skills, versus 16% prior to starting the program.
• 91% of graduates reported understanding their rights, compared to 24% at the beginning of the program.
• 79% of participants had already been able to use what they learned in the sponsorship program to train and mentor other women.

What can you do now?

Now is the perfect time to send your final letter! Congratulate Neema Ciririmbo on her commitment and dedication over the year - send her your thoughts and wishes for her future. 

What comes next?

Neema C.  will graduate from the program at the end of May 2012; graduation is a time of celebration for your sister and her entire community. Ceremonies will include song, dance, hugs, and tears of joy.

Following Neema's  graduation, you will be matched with a new sister in one of the preferred countries you selected when you signed up. You will receive information on your new sister in June 2012. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 202-521-0016 or sponsorship@womenforwomen.org. Thank you so much for choosing to support one of the many women currently waiting eagerly to be matched with a sponsor, you are a life-changer!

Thank you!

We cannot emphasize enough what an enormous gift you have given your sister. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reaching out to support her as she begins to recover from conflict. Thank you for your impact on her life and those of her family and community, you really are part of a global movement!



With Sincere Appreciation,

The Sponsorship Team

We use this every few days to keep our ceramic cooktop sparkling clean!  Easy to make, non toxic, and it works.

1/2 cup baking soda
Enough natural liquid soap to make a paste

Mix baking soda with natural liquid soap (or dishsoap) until you have a thick paste.  Apply a little on a sponge and use to scrub your ceramic cooktop.   Rinse your cloth and wipe up any excess, easy!

Store any excess cleaner in an airtight container, use within a week or two.

Hi!  I'm Laura, second from the left.  =0)                   I'm the one that makes your soap.  A real person!  You can email any time with a happy thought, a problem,  or if you just want to talk.  I'm here, delighted to listen and to help when I can.

Our business didn't start as a business at all, it began with a Christmas gift from my mom. 

I'm dating myself here, but as we lived in a small town and the internet didn't exist yet, there was no way to buy more soap.  One library book, a trip to the store, a few dubious looks from my sweet hubby & I made my first batch...that failed miserably.  Ah well, practice makes progress, right?

I joyfully made more soap than we could use, offered it to friends, made more soap, and before you know it,  Shower Treat Soap was a growing business!  

Growing pains are a natural part of life, aren't they?  As the business grew we began to realize that we weren't business people so much as we were an overwhelmed family.
Joy in making soap became exhaustion as we tried to make everyone happy.   No time for knitting, gardening, taking walks...time flashing by the way it does.

A step back,  reflection, some balance.  Our business plan?  We want to bring you the BEST soap you've ever used.  At a fair price.  To provide fabulous personal service, to listen if you've got a problem.    To help you solve a problem if we can.  To grow steadily, gracefully, without losing ourselves in the process.   We'll also be gardening, taking walks,  canning homemade black raspberry jam, knitting and spending time together as a family.  =0)  

We'll gain customers who understand as we lose those who don't.  To those of you who choose to do business with our family, a heart felt thank you!  We appreciate each and every one of you and will strive to do our very best.

~Laura   

We love daily shower cleaner spray but the price?  Not so much.  No need to spend a small fortune in the store, this easy homemade version works just as well:

You'll need:

1.  A plastic spray bottle
2.  2 cups of vinegar
3.  1 tablespoon liquid soap or dishwashing liquid

Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the spray bottle.  Add your liquid soap, then fill bottle to the top with water.  Shake and you're ready to go.  Spray the walls of your shower down after you get out.  Keeps walls MUCH cleaner and makes deep cleaning a snap.   The vinegar smell fades as it dries, but if you can't stand it, add a few drops of essential oil to your cleaner.

Enjoy!

Cloth Diapers have come a long way!  Back when the kids were babies, we used plain cotton pre-fold diapers.  Wool soaker diaper covers for home, plastic pants for travel, we were "green" before it was the rage. 

The new fabrics & materials are so pretty!  My friend Megan of Wylie Clothworks makes amazing diapers, wet bags, cloth wipes and more.  How I would have loved to try the new diapers!  Ah well, maybe one day (FAR in the future!) I'll be blessed with a grandchild.  We can try the new diapers then.  =0)