Prayer Flag Project: Day 17 Investing

Today's prayer is for more meaningful investment strategies that strengthen communities and empower women.  I especially am moved by an organization called Nest, which is all about the small artisan/crafts person and making their business viable and bringing their goods to a larger market.

Nest Mission Statement

Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest instills pride of ownership, preserves ancient artistic traditions and successfully moves women from poverty to self-sufficiency.

(This is not an advertisement for Nest, nor is it an endorsement. I just love the idea of what they do.  As in all companies and charities, do your own research before you buy or donate).

I pray for fair lending, available low interest credit, and good results.  I hope that these organizations help women bring their families out of poverty and improve the children's opportunities for education and employment.

Today's flag is formed from a hand pieced block that I pulled out of my scrap pile.  A dollar bill was slashed (now that was hard to do...) and woven into the twine window salvaged from a potato bag.  The tags read clothing 15%, recreation 8%, personal 10%, food 27%, rent 30%, savings 10% and were taken from an interesting vintage Home Budget bank.  The bank contained 12 compartments and had slots through which its owner could slip a bill or coins.  Each compartment was meant to encourage savings for a different purpose, and the papers were meant to be slid into a tiny frame on each box.