September 16, 2011
Letters from Operation Blessing’s Chinese orphan care program
As you may already know, Mai Pearls gives 10% of its profits to Operation Blessing’s Chinese orphan care program.
We were recently blessed with some letters from the children this money helps. I thought I would share some excerpts of them with you.
Dear Uncles and Aunties:
"I really appreciate your kindly help to me. I am studying in Lizi Center Elementary School. My parents worked very hard to pay my tuition. Now their burden is lighter because of your help. I want to see you and say thank you in person."
"You have been helping me since grade 2. There was one time my parents do not have enough money and they decided to ask me stop studying. I was very sad. However now I can go to school every day happily. And my parents do not need to be so tired. Thank you. I will study hard and get a good degree."
"Since I cannot return your affection today with anything else except, I can only say thank you with all my mind and all my heart, and I want do some good things for others, just like you do for me. I want to show my appreciation again, thank you very much!"
"Thank you so much dear aunts and uncles. I won’t disappoint you. I will work hard and let the world be more beautiful in the future."
"Now I am in grade three, I got 90 points last semester and I am happy with that. Thank you so much for your help and love. I am 14 and going to be in grade 4. I will not fail you. I can feel your warm and love which give me strength to live. Happy everyday!"
Thank you all for your help in supporting these children.
Posted: September 16, 2011 04:26 PM
August 24, 2010
Mai Pearls features at The Wedding Community Blog!
We were all very excited to see the designer and founder of Mai Pearls, Henrietta Askew, been interviewed by The Wedding Community Blog!
In the interview Henrietta has shared the history of Mai Pearls, its vision and even her favourite jewellery piece! It was great to tell them a bit more about who we are, the blog is a great source of information for brides and events organisers.
Moreover, we have shared the vision of fairness in business. Mai Pearls is really glad that it supports local communities in China, especially through paying fair wages to the women who work with us.
The best of all is that fairness does not imply higher prices. In fact, everyone wins because Mai Pearls still provides quality jewellery and genuine pearls at affordable prices.
If you want to learn more about our brand or company, please make sure you visit The Wedding Community Blog or About Mai Pearls section in the Mai Pearls website.
Posted: August 24, 2010 10:54 AM
February 12, 2010
Candy Girl
Vogue reports that "Lip-smacking ice-cream shades in sheer and floaty fabrics give this season's girlish looks a sugar-coated glamour. Spring's procession of pastel tones - baby blue, pastel pink, pale yellow, spearmint and softest lilac - mesmerises like a gentle lullaby. This mood is softened yet further by way of delicate chiffons, tulle and wispy feathers." Accessorise with soft pink pearls or perhaps silver stud earrings. Whichever you decide remember to think feminine.
Posted: February 12, 2010 12:07 PM
October 07, 2009
Wuge's story
Ake Wuge is just one of the 6 children from the Sichuan province, China that Mai Pearls have been able to sponsor to go to school this acedemic year. Her parents have very little money and not enough for Wuge's school books and education. Wu ge literally means "Fifth one" so she more than likely has many brothers and sisters which is possible only in China if you are a peasant working in the countryside areas. Otherwise citizens of mainland China stick to the one child policy that dominates the structure of modern Chinese families. By supporting Mai Pearls and in turn Operation Blessing's Education Program, we can show that the west does care about these small forgotten and voiceless children which gives them not only an education and hope for a better future but also a sense of self worth. Thank you for your support.
Posted: October 7, 2009 11:10 AM
April 14, 2009
Ethical Pearl Jewellery
Easter is a little like Christmas in terms of supporting charities. It is fairly common to be able to buy a christmas card with part of the money going to a particular charity. This year I was able to buy an Easter card produced by Oxfam. It is the same with Mai Pearls. Everytime you buy something from our beautiful collection of pearl jewellery, you are in turn supporting a charity. The charity that we currently support is called Operation Blessing and 10% of Mai Pearls profits go to their educational program in south China. So why not make your money go further and not only buy some stunning jewellery but also support those that need a little extra help?
Posted: April 14, 2009 12:13 PM
February 19, 2009
Su Haojie's letter to Mai Pearls
Mai Pearls donates 10% of their profits to Operation Blessing Chinese educational programs. Here is a letter from a student, Su Haojie;
Dear Uncle and Untie:
How are you?
I have learned in the bright class three years now, and I can’t imagine how fast time is, in those years I tried my best to study, and I done well in this exam. I was the third in all grade, even not the first, I will continue improving. It is important year for me, and I will struggle to enter a high school in my dream.
My family is not rich, sometimes we have enough food, sometimes we have not. Your helping make our lives easier when I am a junior high school student. My second sister was admitted to a university this September, we are so happy, but the tuition and the cost of living became a big problem to our family. Before she went to school we have to kill a small pig treat the villagers to raise the travel fee. Finally my sister won the Government's loans to study.
If I can go to a high school in county this year, which mean put a heavy burden on my parents’ shoulders, there are still some ways to my study that if I trust in success and firm goal, I will conquer difficulties to the goal of my life in the future. I want to become you, kind and responsible person.
May you are in good health and your jobs are going smoothly.
Yours Sincerely，
Su haojie
Posted: February 19, 2009 03:23 PM
February 18, 2009
Yan Biyan's story
Here is a letter from Yan Biyan, a Chinese student that has been sponsored by Mai Pearls through Operation Blessing;
Dear Uncles and Unties:
How is going?
It is hard to imagine how fast time is. I thought the third-year junior high school life must be a new one, just like entered junior high school from primary school. But after a period of time, I felt very bore, even I wanted to give up my learning. I know I need stick to study, when I see my parents’ eyes, which desire my success.
I'm much obliged to you for helping us, and I am not sure if I can sit in the bright classroom without your help. Your helping make my family live easier，because there are seven members in my family, only my parents work .Sometimes we want to help them ,but they refuse, they are afraid that our study would be delayed, “you are the third class now, ” they said, “it is very important time for you.”. I know that they are love very much.
I woke up in night because of the quarrel between my father and my mother,
and the reason is my tuition. I cried out from my room and said that I would give up study and went out for job, so that our lives would be easier. “Xiaoyan, don’t worry about your tuition” my father said, “I can handle the tuition.” Then I went to bed again.
I feel a lot pressures when I hear from teacher that if I am failure this time, I will no any change more , at the same time my family can not provide me study materials so that I have to borrow my students, sometime it is hard to borrow the materials, the feeling is really bad. But now is different because of your help, I really appreciate it. I buy a full set of learning materials. You can not imagine how happy I am, my family too, especially my mother. I worry about nothing now, and just learning. I am leading a happiness life, for my grandparents have good health, I have a good relationship with my classmates, and our teacher are interested my study specially, and I enjoy my study.
May you have good health and a smooth job!
Yours Sincerely，
Yan biyan
Posted: February 18, 2009 01:43 PM
July 31, 2008
Letter from a Chinese student
Below is a letter written to Mai Pearls from another Chinese student who was sponsored last year to continue his studies;
Dear Aunties and Uncles:
How are you? It’s my pleasure to write to you again. Are you well on both health and work fronts? With your help, the financial pressure on my parents have been relieved, so that I can finish my junior school studies. It’s you who give me so much help and provided a solution to my problem of not being able to continue with studies. Being poor had made me look down on myself and even try to give up studying. But you bring me hope; bring me back to school with a full sense of enjoyment. With the study tools given, it has helped me improve in my studies.
From the time I received your help, my grades have improved and I am now more self-confident and believing in my future. In the next one month, I’ll study hard and try to enter the school that I would like to get into.
There’s an old Chinese proverb that says that “If fish is without water, it will die”. I believe that I can conquer all the difficulties I encounter and then taste the sweetness of having overcome these struggles. The road of life is rough and windy that you wouldn’t know unless you tread that path, I believe now that I can handle the difficulties.
Finally, wish you good health and success at work.
Sincerely yours, Tian Lixing
2008.05.13
Posted: July 31, 2008 08:55 AM
March 06, 2008
Did you know?
For the past two weeks it has been Fairtrade Fortnight?
Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual campaign to raise awareness and promote products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. Every year campaigners around the country organise thousands of events such as breakfasts, banquets, fashion shows and football matches – all using or promoting Fairtrade items. By encouraging our communities to make small changes and buy Fairtrade products regularly we can trigger a positive change in the lives of producers.
Fairtrade is a rapidly growing international movement which seeks to guarantee a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world. A product that is Fairtrade certifies carries a label, the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Although Mai Pearls products do not support the Fairtrade mark, we do aim to bring to the public ethical handmade pearl jewellery. Each piece of jewellery is handmade by a small group of mainland Chinese women. Mai Pearls supports fair trade and local community initiatives. This means that we ensure our suppliers are paid fair wages for their work; working conditions are safe and of a good standard and no children are exploited. Mai Pearls gives 10% of its profits to Operation Blessings, Chinese orphan care program.
Mai Pearls also cares about the environment and we promise to try to minimise excess packaging as well as using items with recycled content. We also use recycle print materials when possible.
For more information on Fairtrade fortnight please click onto this link;
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/fairtrade_fortnight/fairtrade_fortnight_2008/default.aspx
Posted: March 6, 2008 03:46 PM
January 28, 2008
In the Know
Two small groups of Chinese women hand make each piece of Mai Pearls jewellery. Mai Pearls therefore donates 10% off its profits to Operation Blessing’s care programs. These programs are available for China’s needy children, orphans, handicapped children and children suffering from various diseases.
Whilst in Beijing at the beginning of January, I had the pleasure of visiting Operation Blessing’s head quarters and hearing more about these projects. Operation Blessing have six projects; Healthcare, Surgical Assistance, Clean Water, Education, Disaster Relief and Back to Sound.
Although many children living in poor areas in China are not required to pay for their full tuition, related school and educational costs exceed the ability of many families living in poverty and extreme poverty. Operation Blessing China’s Education Program has assisted thousands of children from 14 provinces with their tuition and related educational costs, helping many who otherwise would never complete a primary and middle school education.
Operation Blessing China also seeks to find ways to help assist the educational needs of children of migrant workers living in China’s cities. For more information www.obchina.org
Posted: January 28, 2008 12:34 PM
January 15, 2008
Happy New Year!
All of Mai Pearls’ jewellery is made by two small groups of Chinese women. As this is the case, Mai Pearls donates 10% off its profits to Operation Blessing’s care programs. These programs are available for China’s needy children, orphans, handicapped children and children suffering from various diseases.
I had the pleasure of visiting Operation Blessing’s head quarters in Beijing at the beginning of this month and hearing more about these projects. Operation Blessing have six projects; Healthcare, Surgical Assistance, Clean Water, Education, Disaster Relief and Back to Sound.
The Surgical Assistance programs provide surgical procedures which result in saving lives, curing diseases, improving the quality of lives, and increasing the likelihood of an orphan being adopted into a family and/or being able to lead an independent and fulfilling life.
Operation Blessing China’s cleft lip/palate surgery program matches donors with orphans and other impoverished children born with cleft lips/palates. Since 2000, they have treated more than 2261 children. The program is currently conducted in the following provinces: Beijing, Xinjiang, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Gansu and Hubei.
In China, approximately 35,000 infants are born with disfiguring cleft lips and/or palates each year. Most are too poor to afford corrective surgery. Without it these children often live life ostracized from society while enduring many health problems. Infants sometimes starve to death because they are unable to nurse. School-age boys and girls don’t attend school because of their humiliation. The disfigurement is sometimes seen as a curse. Marriage is often out of the question. And meanwhile, many are abandoned by their birth parents to languish in an orphanage without hope of adoption.
With very little Operation Blessing can do so much to change these precious youngsters’ lives. In partnership with hospitals, government, corporations, and caring people — they provide free operations to give children living in poverty or an orphan a chance for a better future. A gifted surgeon can erase traces of the deformity with little or no scarring.
Operation Blessing China’s focus on orphans stem from their great need to be cared and loved. Help comes in many forms, such as providing highly nutritive milk formula in several orphan care facilities, improving the orphanages’ facilities, donating gifts, visiting orphans and training the caregivers in their work and care of the orphans, ultimately enabling the orphans to lead a healthy, happy and hopeful life.
Many children become orphans through abandonment because of physical or mental disabilities, abandonment because of finances and social situations, discriminate against females or from disasters. Over 50% of orphans have a physical or mental disability…they not only need to deal with the hardships the diseases cause, they also have to live with the knowledge that their parents abandoned them. Operation Blessing China aims to give these orphans the attention that they deserve by providing life-saving and life-changing surgeries, tuition, room, and board for their special education, as well as other need-based help. It is our goal that they will be able to live a life of fullness and quality as they move to towards independence in adulthood. In many cases, this surgery was just the thing they needed in order to be adopted into a loving family. For others, it was a matter of life or death. www.obchina.org
Posted: January 15, 2008 04:54 PM
November 01, 2007
Ethical Jewellery
In September, I was fortunate enough to attend The Great Debate held at the International Jewellery London 2007 trade show. During the debate, the jewellery industry’s response to the ethical, social and humanitarian issue which confront the jewellery trade today were discussed.
There was an overall feeling that the jewellery industry must address ethical issues. Willie Hamilton, Chairman of the Company of Master Jewellers stated that the jewellery industry is exactly where the food industry was ten years ago, facing what seems an impossible task. He warned jewellers that they must confront and address these issues before they seriously damage the industry.
During the debate, it was suggested that it is the individuals that set out to create a business which can benefit subsistence communities, create employment and encourage fair trading conditions. It is these businesses that have created a niche marketing position of their own in the retail and wholesale jewellery sector.
Mai Pearls are very much aware of it’s responsibility to society and the environment and that is why we have taken three steps to ensure that we are an ethical jewellery brand. These are;
1. Mai Pearls supports fair trade and local community initiatives. This means that we ensure our suppliers are paid fair wages for their work; working conditions are safe and of a good standard and no children are exploited.
2. Mai Pearls gives 10% of it’s profits to Operation Blessing’s Chinese orphan care program. For more information on this charity, please take a look at their website www.obchina.org
3. Mai Pearls also cares about the environment and promises to try to minimise excess packaging as well as using items with recycled content. This is also the case for our printing.
So you can feel good whilst shopping at Mai Pearls!
Posted: November 1, 2007 01:21 PM