Last night I met Connie Duckworth, founder of Arzu Rugs. In the Appendix of Growing Up Global I suggest Arzu among the beautiful ways to adorn your home and support gender equality, so it was very special to meet Connie passing through Philly. Arzu (meaning “hope” in Dari, and Farsi speakers will recognize this word too) creates sustainable means of income to break the cycle of poverty, utilizing beautiful hand-crafted rugs made by women in Afghanistan. Connie was inspired by the women’s story and founded the organization after 9/11/01 – yet another example of mobilization and hope after that tragedy. (See www.arzurugs.org.)

As we were talking, she mentioned good friends of hers that are Persian, like me. Turns out their cousins in Peru (!) are dear friends of mine, from my year living in Peru while I was in college. What a small world!

Win a Global Giving gift card!

So, I ask you dear friends of Growing Up Global to share either:
1) an example of hope in the world that has inspired you – particularly an example of mobilizing in a positive direction following a particularly difficult experience, or
2) an example of a “small world” connection that you have experienced recently, particularly involving places and people that you didn’t expect to go together.

I have an actual prize – a Global Giving gift card! – for the top five entries. You can post directly on the Fan Page for Growing Up Global or email me your entry: homa@growingupglobal.net. These stories can be as short as a sentence or two – nothing fancy is needed, or as long as you wish. It’s just a way to start sharing more stories across this community.

And if you’ve never used a Global Giving gift card, you’re in for a treat! This is a way to learn, share, make a difference in the world (see www.globalgiving.com). Please re-post this note and share with more friends. My GlobalGiving friends are generous with the gift cards, so we would love to hear of many stories!

Hand detail an Arzu rug in Afghanistan - changing lives

thanks and can’t wait to hear from you!!
-homa